MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY
 

GOVERNMENT IN PANIC MODE ON AUSTRALIA POST DEBACLE

 
Speculation the Morrison Government might be looking to parachute the Australia Post CEO out of the company highlight just how panicked they are after being caught out using COVID-19 as an excuse to cut services and attack jobs.
 
At the time of this release, the Government and Australia Post are refusing to disclose data that threatens to unravel their original narrative about these changes.
 
They have spent three days trying to delay the release of this information until after a vote in the Parliament, which is expected for Monday.
 
On 21 April the Government announced its decision to cut postal service standards and sent the CEO to make their case in the Sydney Morning Herald:
 

“Letters have dropped 50 per cent some days and unaddressed mail, used by businesses for promotional material, has collapsed by 75 per cent…. it's almost like we have had five or 10 years squashed into one month" 

 
Yet a report in the Australian on Friday completely blew these figures apart:
 

Letter volumes fell 28 per cent in April compared to the same month last year, which also experienced an election bump, while volumes in March and February — which were outside the election campaign — fell 11 and 10 per cent respectively.

 
Critically, after having 50 and 75 per cent whittled down to 28, the Government is refusing to disclose standalone addressed mail declines for April 2020 when the decision was made and announced, and continue to blend unaddressed advertising mail into its figures. 
 
Why is the Government refusing to release this figure you might ask?
 
Put it this way – if the figures proved addressed letter volumes didn’t “collapse” in April as was originally claimed, then the attempt to rush through these changes without scrutiny or consultation would be even more untrustworthy than first suspected. 

SUNDAY, 14 JUNE 2020