Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about the Turramurra Post Office. In mid-December I began receiving phone calls from constituents concerned that a ‘for lease’ sign had appeared outside Turramurra Post Office. When I contacted Australia Post, I was told, ‘Oh, yes, we plan to close Turramurra Post Office on 28 January 2011.’ At this stage there had been no notice given by Australia Post to the community. I called a community meeting on 19 January to give the Turramurra community the opportunity to express its views.

Let me thank the nearly 300 people who attended that meeting. A senior Australia Post executive attended at my request. Subsequently, Australia Post gave a written commitment to provide continuity of service in Turramurra, including through opening a community postal agency in Eastern Road, Turramurra. I will be maintaining scrutiny to ensure that Australia Post delivers on its commitments.

I thank all of those who have worked to put pressure on Australia Post over this matter, including Turramurra Community Bank and its representatives, the Turramurra Chamber of Commerce, local residents and businesspeople and the North Shore Times. We have now formed the Turramurra Post Office Action Group to keep up the pressure on Australia Post to ensure that it delivers on its commitment to maintain continuity of service to the Turramurra community.