The dark clouds of uncertainty hang over our post offices—in particular, our country post offices. Make no mistake: our country post offices are under threat. If we are not careful, we are going to lose them. They are going to close before our eyes. In recent years, dozens and dozens of post offices have closed in country areas. They are essential lifelines for country communities. We must keep them open if we want strong, vibrant and viable country communities, but they are under threat. Make no mistake: they are under threat. They are under threat from Australia Post, the very organisation which needs to be caring for them and nurturing them and looking after not only these small-business people but country communities.

In recent years, we've seen the major banks pack up and leave. They've said: 'Just go and do your banking at the Post Office. It'll be alright.' We've seen services slowly but surely stripped away from our country communities, and now we face losing our post offices too—the last place where people can access basic face-to-face services like financial services and banking. Instead of squeezing country post offices out of business with unviable business models, Australia Post needs to actively support them and not let them wither on the vine. We've been watching what's happening at Australia Post and how they're doing some type of change plan for the future. Whatever it is, they need to ensure the ongoing viability of our country post offices, otherwise all we're going to be left with in country Australia is parcel lockers. What concerns us is that Australia Post is not going to say to country post offices, 'You have to close,' but is going to slowly let them die by not putting in place a viable financial model that lets these vital small businesses thrive. At the end of the day, they'll say: 'Well, do you know what? Those small-business people just didn't want to do it anymore, so, sorry, that's another post office that must close.'

But the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear from right across the Central West. Kaylene Philpott is the owner of the Molong licensed post office, a post office which has survived incredible hardship, including recent floods. Kaylene writes:

The next nearest full-service Post Office is approximately 40 kilometres away. For elderly customers without reliable transport, for farming families in the middle of a busy season, and for people who cannot manage their affairs online, that distance is not a manageable alternative. It is a genuine barrier to accessing services they depend on.

This is not simply a commercial concern. Molong's Post Office is one of the last locally accessible points for banking, bill payment, identity services, and government-related functions in this community. If it weakens, the people who would feel that most are those already navigating the greatest disadvantage.

Craig Williamson, who runs the Manildra Licensed Post Office, is a man who is also very concerned for his community. In fact, I saw Craig last week. I was driving through Manildra and noticed the Australian flag was looking a bit worse for wear. I went into the post office. Craig had the key, and before you know it we had another Aussie flag flying high in the town. But Craig is worried about the future of postal services in Manildra. He says:

Manildra has no other bank in town. The nearest full-service Post Office is 50 kilometres away, a two-hour return drive on country roads with no realistic public transport alternative. For an elderly resident, a farmer in the middle of a busy season, or a family without reliable transport, that is not a manageable substitute.

What he wants is action. He wants change in Australia Post. He says:

The Manildra post office is the hub of this community in a very practical sense, and what happens here matters well beyond the walls of this outlet.

Our eyes are on Australia Post. The chief executive officer of that organisation must be held to account.

The CEO must be called out if there is some type of secret plan to close post offices, and the Australian government cannot wash its hands of it either and say: 'You know what? Australia Post functions independently. We have no control.' The Australian government has every control, and both the Australian government and Australia Post and its CEO must be held to account for what's happening to our country post offices.