TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

LABOR WILL OPPOSE AUSTRALIA POST REGULATIONS 

Labor will seek to overturn new Morrison Government regulations that will let Australia Post scale back services, slash jobs and cut wages.

The regulations slash by half the frequency of postie delivery rounds, leaving the jobs of up to one in four posties in limbo and many other indirect jobs at risk.

Labor considers the parcels boom is an opportunity to preserve and create jobs — not cut them.

There was no consultation on these regulations before they were announced, and there was no opportunity to examine the merits and impacts of alternative approaches.

The Government claims these regulations are a temporary response to COVID-19.

Labor is concerned, however, the key changes are intended to be permanent and COVID-19 is being used to enact them without transparent examination of alternatives or understanding of the long-term impacts.

If Australia Post and the Government wanted to make a case for change they should have fronted up and given an honest account of their plans. Instead, they have chosen to hide behind COVID-19 in the hope no one would notice the temporary changes and workforce impact would be irreversible come July 2021.

Labor will not consent to this cheap shot on the workers of Australia Post and this breach of trust with the community.

Change can be difficult, but when it comes to an essential community service such as Australia Post, there should be an open discussion about its future.

The consultative process undertaken in 2014 and 2015 was challenging but has made Australia Post one of the most successful, trusted and efficient postal operators in the world. What is happening now is directly at odds with that approach.

And if parcels are booming then why is Australia Post talking about redundancies?

For these reasons Labor will seek to disallow these regulations in the current sitting period.

Our objective is simple: to protect jobs and provide a service that meets the needs of consumers, business and the community at large.

Australia Post needs to work with unions and workers to develop a plan and provide them with tangible assurances that jobs will not be cut.

Labor will also move to establish a Senate inquiry to provide stakeholders with a voice and deliver the scrutiny this issue deserves.

WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2020