June 22, 2026
The Federal Opposition claims Australia Post has a “secret plan” to close down post offices in rural and regional areas.
The Coalition says a leaked Australia Post document states “the key design elements of the non-major cities major network model” had been approved under a program called “Licensed Post Office Reimagined”.
The Coalition says “format conversions” could involve consolidating or relocating postal services into pharmacies, newsagents or convenience stores, or downsizing them to parcel agents.
The program will allegedly start with the 159 last-service LPOs, where there is no financial institution for more than 50km.
Victorian Liberal Party Senator Sarah Henderson said Communications Minister Anika Wells and Australia Post must “come clean to Australians about their secret plan to rationalise post offices across the country”.
“What will happen to LPO licensees who don’t accept Australia Post’s inducements. How many post offices will be shut down? How many regional communities will be affected? How many Australia Post employees will lose their jobs?” she said.
“These changes would directly affect millions of Australians, as well as small and family businesses in communities across the country. They deserve honest answers from Anika Wells and Australia Post.”
Victorian Nationals MP Dr Anne Webster the “secret plan” was “a callous attack on people living in regional, rural and remote Australia”.
“Regional post offices play a vital role in meeting Australia Post’s Community Service Obligations which include that the letter service is reasonably accessible to all Australians on an equitable basis,” Dr Webster said.
