Today I rise to express my deep concern about the pending closure of three local Australia Post offices in my community. The impact of the closures of the Box Hill, Brandon Park and Burwood Village post offices will be felt particularly hard by vulnerable members of my community, including older Australians, who rely on these services for their daily needs. We know that Australia Post is a vital public service that plays a crucial role in our communities. It provides essential services, such as mail delivery, passport applications, and banking and bill payment services—all of which are essential to the functioning of our communities. The closure of these post offices will mean that members of my community will have to travel further to access these services, which will be particularly difficult for older Australians, those who do not have access to reliable transport and those who have mobility challenges.

My office has been inundated with calls and emails about these announced closures, which is why earlier this month I wrote to the group CEO and managing director of Australia Post informing him of the significant and unacceptable impact that these closures will have in my community. I urge Australia Post to reconsider these decisions and to provide alternative solutions that will ensure that the vital services they provide continue to be accessible to my community. The closure of these offices is unacceptable. We must do all we can to ensure that my community is not left without the essential services that it relies on.