Senate Inquiry into Australia Post
On 25 February 2021, the Senate referred an Inquiry into Australia Post to the Environment and Communications References Committee for report by 30 April 2021.
Senator Hanson has pushed for an inquiry into the way the Christine Holgate affair was managed by the Morrison Government, whilst Labor and the Greens were successful in broadening the scope of the inquiry to once again examine the merits of the Liberals’ temporary regulatory reforms – the legislative framework that allows the Alternate Day Delivery Model (ADM) to exist.
In particular, the ALP and Greens amendments will broaden the scope of the inquiry to examine:
- the issues surrounding the secret review of Australia Post by the Boston Consulting Group leading to the introduction of changes to Australia Post’s service model;
- the future of reductions to Australia Post’s service model; and
- any other related matters.
The complete terms of reference can be viewed by clicking here.
All submissions published by the Committee can be viewed by clicking here.
And whilst the Liberal Government’s service slashing regulation changes were allowed to proceed through the Parliament, thanks to the support of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie Network Senators, this inquiry will now examine the actual effects those changes have had on services to businesses and our communities, on our members jobs, conditions, their health and their safety.
We believe this to be crucial as we enter the fourth month remaining until the ‘temporary’ regulations are set to lapse – bringing service commitments back to where they were pre-ADM.
We know that throughout the past few months, Australia Post and the Morrison Government have copped an absolute battering over the reduction of services experienced by those who use it. And week in, week out, your AURs have been meeting with management at all levels within the organisation and telling the exact same story:
- Shift commencement times have impacted on members’ work/life balance and their ability to finish the job properly, and safely.
- Parcels and letter product continues to be left behind, or brought back undelivered, on the days customers were expecting them to arrive
- UMS, additional revenue, is being thrown in the bin as round sizes are at impossible levels
Our members’ jobs support a vital public service. The effects of this damning decision, and the impact it has had on our communities and the Australia Post workforce deserve to be interrogated properly – and accurately reflected on the public record. Postal workers deserve to be able to do their jobs properly – to deliver the services our customers rely on – to completion, and safely.
The Union has been invited to make submissions to the inquiry, and we intend to do so whilst also intending to appear as witnesses at any hearings scheduled. We will be strongly advocating that the delivery model, in its current form, must NOT be allowed to continue.
We will also be advocating for the continuation of our members’ income levels, and the Government’s commitment to not privatising Australia Post.
You can view the CEPU’s submission made on behalf of members by clicking the button below.
A public hearing has been scheduled for 13 April – National President Shane Murphy and National Secretary Greg Rayner will be appearing on behalf of the Union to give evidence to the Committee.
