Australia Post responds to surge in attacks with urgent new move

If you’ve ever noticed your postie acting a bit cautious near your front gate, there may be more to it than meets the eye.

A new safety step has just been rolled out following a rise in troubling incidents that have affected workers across the country in unexpected ways.

It’s a move aimed at protecting those who deliver through all kinds of challenges.


Over the past six months alone, more than 1,150 threatening dog encounters have been reported by Australia Post workers.

That’s an average of nine posties every single day forced to run for their safety—hardly the 'walk in the park' some might imagine the job to be.


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Australia Post will equip all posties with citronella spray by the end of July, following a sharp increase in dog attacks nationwide over the past six months. Credit: dimid_86 / iStock


Russell Munro, Australia Post’s General Manager of Safety, didn’t mince words:

‘Despite public awareness efforts and rigorous safety protocols, we continue to see alarming rates of dog-related incidents. Apart from the normal bites and scratches, we’ve seen posties knocked off bikes. We’ve also seen psychological trauma for our posties following serious dog attacks. Last year, one of our posties had her foot seriously injured when a dog bit through her boot.’

In response, Australia Post is rolling out a new, non-harmful deterrent: citronella spray.


This water-based spray isn’t dangerous to dogs, but it’s proven to be a powerful distraction—giving posties those precious extra seconds to protect themselves and call for help.

After a successful trial in some of the worst-affected areas in NSW and Queensland, where it deterred 80 per cent of attacks, the spray will now be issued to all posties by the end of July, with those in high-risk areas first in line.

But don’t worry—this isn’t about turning your friendly neighbourhood postie into a vigilante.

Employees will receive training and are instructed to use the spray only as a last resort when all other options have failed.

Bronwyn Adamson, a former vet nurse and now a postie in Western Australia, knows all too well the risks.


‘The incident occurred when I was delivering a parcel requiring a signature,’ she recalled.

‘A dog escaped from behind a gate and bit me on my breast, leaving a puncture wound and severe bruising which developed into a golf ball-sized haematoma.’

For Bronwyn and many others, the new spray offers much-needed peace of mind.

Australia Post has even released confronting footage showing aggressive dogs bursting out of front doors, leaping fences, and chasing down postal workers.

In one clip, a postie is seen clutching his leg and collapsing as a resident desperately tries to restrain her dog.


It’s a sobering reminder that these aren’t just statistics—they’re real people facing real danger.

Dog attacks on posties aren’t limited to one area—they’re happening all over Australia.

Here’s a breakdown of the worst-affected regions since November:
  • Queensland (388 incidents): Darra, Bundamba, Toowoomba
  • New South Wales (329): Moree, Penrith, Waterloo
  • Western Australia (184): Joondalup, Geraldton, Malaga
  • Victoria (138): Oakleigh South, Mooroolbark, Deepdene, Mornington
  • South Australia (60): Glynde, Lonsdale, Edinburgh North, Salisbury South
  • Tasmania (27): Launceston, Burnie, Devonport, Hobart
  • ACT (17): Canberra South, Mitchell, Tuggeranong
  • Northern Territory (10): Katherine, Palmerston, Darwin
The surge in online shopping and parcel deliveries means posties are visiting more homes than ever before.

Nearly 40 per cent of attacks in the past six months happened on a customer’s property, and in half of those cases, the front door had been propped open.


Roaming dogs are also a significant concern, accounting for 39 per cent of all incidents on the street.

Australia Post is urging all pet owners to do their part: if you’re expecting a delivery, please secure your dog in a contained area, a separate room, or behind a locked gate.

It’s a simple step that could prevent a serious injury—or worse.

We know many of our Seniors Discount Club members are dog lovers and responsible pet owners.

But even the friendliest pooch can get a fright or become territorial when a stranger approaches.

Let’s all do our bit to keep our posties safe—after all, they’re the ones braving the elements (and sometimes, our four-legged friends) to bring us our mail and parcels.
Key Takeaways
  • Australia Post will equip all posties with citronella spray by the end of July, following a sharp increase in dog attacks nationwide over the past six months.
  • More than 1,150 dog-related incidents have been recorded since November, with posties suffering from bites, injuries, and psychological trauma.
  • The citronella spray, which is non-harmful and water-based, will only be used as a last resort and has already proven to deter 80 per cent of attacks during initial trials in high-risk areas.
  • Australia Post is urging pet owners to secure their dogs—either in a separate room or behind a locked gate—when receiving a delivery to help prevent further attacks on postal workers.
Have you or someone you know had a close call with a dog and a delivery worker? Do you think citronella spray is a good solution, or is there more we could be doing as a community? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
 

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Elderly friend of mine whom is blind was taking her guide dog for a walk each day which you are required to do if you are blind and lucky enough to be approved to be given one . I belie it costs about $35000 to train one now. Just a few metres from her home this big dog raced out and attacked the guide dog , did quite large amount of damage to her dog lucky it didn’t have to be put down . Guide dogs just lie down when they are attacked they are taught not to fight . Neighbours heard her screaming rushed out called the police fortunate ly there was aPatrol Car in the area and they were there in 3 minutes . The officer just got out of the car and when he saw it was a guide dog and the aggressive dog had ran back inside its fence walked up pulled out his gun and SHOT it on the spot My friend was 9 months without her guide dog waiting for it to heal and it was never the same after .. As far as I’m concerned any dog whom attacks a person posti or otherwise should be treated the same way . If they do it once they will do it again .
 
I have a heartbroken postie. He said the best part of his round was stopping to play with my girls. But unfortunately, I need to lock my gate (colourbond fencing) to stop my neighbour letting my dogs out! He did this last year and I lost one of my little girls as she was hit by a car that didn't stop. I do say I'm thankful it wasn't the young child next door as he'd have no hesitation doing the same thing there! The young postie understands but is disappointed. He had a little dog as a child and isn't in a position to have one now. He did say that he fears other dogs on his route due to them being aggressive and running free. Once again, it's irresponsible owners letting the puppers down again.
 
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Elderly friend of mine whom is blind was taking her guide dog for a walk each day which you are required to do if you are blind and lucky enough to be approved to be given one . I belie it costs about $35000 to train one now. Just a few metres from her home this big dog raced out and attacked the guide dog , did quite large amount of damage to her dog lucky it didn’t have to be put down . Guide dogs just lie down when they are attacked they are taught not to fight . Neighbours heard her screaming rushed out called the police fortunate ly there was aPatrol Car in the area and they were there in 3 minutes . The officer just got out of the car and when he saw it was a guide dog and the aggressive dog had ran back inside its fence walked up pulled out his gun and SHOT it on the spot My friend was 9 months without her guide dog waiting for it to heal and it was never the same after .. As far as I’m concerned any dog whom attacks a person posti or otherwise should be treated the same way . If they do it once they will do it again .
Oh how horrifying and heart breaking for your friend and the service dog! It takes long enough and a lot of money to train these special dogs and this happens.
 
Ivery had put on my delivery card so many times , unable to deliver, dog on the loose, we're on 5 acres, no dogs and nobody around, just cameras that show they pull up to the letterbox, drop the card in and drive off.
I have an ongoing argument with AusPost due to them being allowed to leave everything in a crate nailed to the INSIDE of my fence, for various reasons. However, the majority won't get out of their van or say the gate is locked. The gate is locked so my psychopathic neighbour does not let my little dogs out to be killed on the road like he did last year! It is in ALL my delivery instructions to put parcels in the crate if I am not down at the gate as the yard is huge and sometimes my body can't get me there quick enough to receive a delivery.
 
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I have an ongoing argument with AusPost due to them being allowed to leave everything in a crate nailed to the INSIDE of my fence, for various reasons. However, the majority won't get out of their van or say the gate is locked. The gate is locked so my psychopathic neighbour does not let my little dogs out to be killed on the road like he did last year! It is in ALL my delivery instructions to put parcels in the crate if I am not down at the gate as the yard is huge and sometimes my body can't get me there quick enough to receive a delivery.
I'm with you, they don't read delivery details, mine says, no do please put on front verandah out of the weather, numerous times they've been throw over the fence onto wet grass in the rain, one time a magpie or crow ripped the plastic bag to shreds looking for food, all my order was everywhere. No care taken.
 
I have owned a dog for many years and when I got it, I took it to a local dog training club. It never had the chance to attack a postie because it was always in the back yard not the front yard. I also never kept my dog inside the house unless we were not home. Any dog that attacks a postie should be reported and the owner fined.
Definitely ! I think a lot of dogs are put outside when people go to work and they don’t know or maybe don’t care what happens while they aren’t there. !
 
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Definitely ! I think a lot of dogs are put outside when people go to work and they don’t know or maybe don’t care what happens while they aren’t there. !
When complaints are made it is never their dog , always someone else’s .
 
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I would employ a group of independent workers and ask them to walk down each street once a month to see which dog owners, allow their dogs to run out onto the street and attack people. Obviously the independent workers would use the new spray to deter the dog from attacking. Then upon finding out which dog owners allow their dogs to run towards people, I would give a big fine and a stern warning to the dog owner, explaining that their dog that is loose, continues to attack the post- men who deliver the mail. Also, the stern warning would state, that if the dog is not kept on their property out of harm's way, legal action will be taken and the dog owner will be prosecuted in a court of law. God bless, 🙏🦋
 
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I'm with you, they don't read delivery details, mine says, no do please put on front verandah out of the weather, numerous times they've been throw over the fence onto wet grass in the rain, one time a magpie or crow ripped the plastic bag to shreds looking for food, all my order was everywhere. No care taken.
Would have been a crow,;)
 
I would employ a group of independent workers and ask them to walk down each street once s month to see which dog owners, allow their dogs to run out onto the street and attack people. Obviously the independent workers would use the new spray to deter the dog from attacking. Then upon finding out which dog owners allow their dogs to run towards people, I would give a fine and a warning to the owner, explaining that their dog that is loose, continues to attack the post men. God bless, 🙏🦋
good luck and you pay their wages as well.
 
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good luck and you pay their wages as well.
Dear member Jest, money does not come into the equation when a person's mental health and life is at risk, good Karma to you always, God bless, 🙏🦋
 
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I had an incident years ago while walking my new puppy. We were walking across a footbridge in a park when this man's two bull terriers rushed at my little one and dragged him down into the creek. The owner stood on the bridge and did nothing. I saw red and on impulse went down into that creek and started punching the two dogs who were both biting at mine. Luckily I was able to get my hands on my puppy and somehow I threw him up on the bank. I was exhausted and so angry and think I said to the owner 'why didn't you stop your dogs?' He didn't answer, just went off with the dogs as if he didn't care at all. My dog was bleeding and I took him straight to the Vet, who stitched him up and said that I had been very lucky this time. The dogs were never on a lead. I fully support the Posties to have Pepper Spray and hope it will be a good deterrant against further dog attacks.
Julie
Can echo that story, owner stood by and watched while her 2 Staffies, they were on leads but uncontrollable and escaped, attacked my rescue Jack Russell on his lead. Guy attacked them with his crutch. Woman walked away, no apology. While I had a half hour drive to get to an after hours vet, 3 hours waiting for my little one to be treated and monitored. I was told at the time of the over the top figures for Staffy attacks in my area. Cannot understand people being allowed to have these dogs.
 
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Many dogs, not just dingos or their crosses, aren't worried by citronella. Dogs can see the letter box as part of their property, and the postie interferes with their property so is treated with aggression. Simplest solution: ensure dogs simply cannot get to the letterbox and thus the postie. Keep the dog behind the house. Have your driveway and letterbox outside the front fence.
Many, many years ago, we had a postie who always had dog biscuits in his bag. The neighbourhood dogs knew it, and would rush up to greet the postie and get a biscuit. He told my mother he never was bitten. But that was also in the era when dog owners took their dogs for walks twice a day, instead of keeping them behind fences 24/7. Dogs permanently confined to a small area are more likely to develop over-protective attitudes to that area, and thus attack anything that might be an intruder.
 
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