Nicolette Boele (Bradfield, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Post offices are the backbone of our communities. This is certainly the case for my electorate of Bradfield, and closures—those that have already occurred and those that are on the cards—hurt communities. Post offices are more than just facilities for buying stamps or sending letters; they are community hubs and provide essential service points for many Australians. Post offices are often the only places to pay bills, and they're often the only places to do banking because of bank branch closures. They are often the only places to apply for a passport or access a justice of the peace. And they are particularly relied upon by the elderly, local business operators and people accessing parcels and other large post, particularly those taking advantage of opportunities for flexible work—tilting towards parents working from home between parenting duties.

Australia Post offices can't be run by the Commonwealth like profit centres, because they are not profit centres, and they are not likely to be. Post offices provide essential services to many. They are an investment in our communities and local businesses, and they give a sense of connection and safety, particularly for our seniors. The loss of this essential service imperative is killing communities, and, in my electorate, the closure of the Artarmon post office was undertaken in just eight weeks, with no notice and with laminated signs on the door. Government must step up and guarantee that this critical service remains.