Four more post offices are shutting their doors before Christmas, leaving elderly residents scrambling for alternatives as Australia's postal network faces its biggest challenge in decades.
The latest closures—Burwood, Kingsgrove, Milsons Point, and Revesby—follow a devastating pattern that saw 73 post offices close across Australia in 2024, with projections suggesting 100 closures by June 2025.
For many older Australians, these aren't just postal outlets—they're lifelines. Local residents like Bryce Gunn understand exactly what's at stake: 'They come here to do their banking, get their pension, pay their power bills.'
'We're completely outraged. We won't stop here'
The numbers behind the crisis
Australia Post is bleeding money, with an $88.5 million loss in the 2024 financial year, following a $200 million loss the previous year. The culprit? Letters business losses increased by more than 50 per cent to $384 million as Australians increasingly turn to digital alternatives.
CEO Paul Graham hasn't minced words about the situation. Letter volumes have plunged 66 per cent since 2008, yet Australia Post is still legally required to deliver mail to every Australian address.
What services are we losing?
Bank@Post transactions (the last banking option in many communities)
Pension and Centrelink services
Bill paying facilities
Parcel collection and postal services
Identity verification services
Community meeting spaces
A David and Goliath battle in Milsons Point
The Milsons Point closure perfectly illustrates the disconnect between community needs and corporate bottom lines.
When residents learned their post office was 'too expensive' to keep open, they mobilised. Transport for NSW even stepped in, offering a lease at 2022 prices.
'This is a special offer that we're making for the Milsons Point community. There is absolutely no reason why Australia Post should not sign that lease today,' said Josh Murray from Transport for NSW.
But Australia Post still said no, citing 'significant losses' - a decision that has left local business owner Venietta Slama-Powell questioning CEO Paul Graham's priorities: 'You're making the disadvantaged more disadvantaged.'
Government steps in with new rules
Recognising the mounting crisis, the federal government issued a revised Statement of Expectations in July 2024, outlining requirements for maintaining essential postal services and avoiding planned closures in communities where the post office is the only remaining provider of face-to-face postal and financial services.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasised the government's expectation that Australia Post will continue providing services in areas where closure would leave a community without essential services.
What you can do if your post office is threatened
- Contact your local federal MP immediately
- Organise community petitions and meetings
- Document the services that would be lost
- Highlight vulnerable residents who rely on the services
- Push for community consultation meetings
The banking connection
While the big four banks reduced their branches by 190 in the past financial year—a 41 per cent reduction since 2017—post offices have only seen a 4 per cent reduction in the same period.
This makes post offices increasingly vital as the last banking option in many communities.
The situation became so dire that Bank@Post was on track for significant losses until Australia Post negotiated new agreements with major banks. As Paul Graham put it: 'We have allowed the banks to leave town with their reputations intact, but we cannot and should not subsidise this essential service to the benefit of the banks' bottom line'.
The urban-rural divide
While Sydney grapples with these closures, the contrast with the CBD is stark. 7NEWS counted 39 post offices within 5km of Sydney's CBD, highlighting what critics call an 'oversupply' in profitable areas while essential services disappear from suburban communities.
Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek captured the frustration: 'There's about 20,000 people in that catchment. It is not fair for the local community. It is not fair for the elderly who don't know how to use the computer or the internet.'
Did you know?
Did you know?
National Seniors Australia CEO Chris Grice supports the concept of post offices getting banking licenses, noting that the closure of both a post office and local bank can often spell the demise of a community.
Looking for solutions
Advocacy groups are pushing for a 'post office people's bank' as a potential solution that could provide full banking services rather than the current Bank@Post 'handling service.' This would give rural and regional Australians 'more than just a handling service,' according to National Seniors Australia.
Meanwhile, Australia Post CEO Paul Graham has argued that maintaining 4,000 outlets nationally—more than the number of supermarkets—is 'not sustainable'.
What happens next?
Australia Post has promised 'community meetings' to explain what it calls 'customer transition' for affected areas. But for residents like Brian Barrett in Revesby, the writing's on the wall: 'It's going to mean a hell of a lot of difficulties.'
The closures join Pennant Hills, Artarmon, Rockdale, and Campsie, which have all disappeared in the past 12 months, creating a growing map of postal deserts across Sydney's suburbs.
For the thousands of older Australians who rely on these services, the question remains: will community outrage be enough to save their local lifelines, or is this just the beginning of a much larger transformation?
What's happening in your local area? Have you noticed changes to postal services in your community? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Original Article
https://7news.com.au/news/australia...offices-in-sydney-sparking-outrage-c-20055960
Could Post office banks reduce Aust Post closures and help elderly locals
Cited text: According to the Australian Citizens Party, 73 post offices closed in 2024, leaving communities and businesses reeling and older Australians disadvant...
Excerpt: 73 post offices close across Australia in 2024
https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/8884652/postal-banks-urged-amid-closures-in-australia/
73 post offices gone in 2024! When will Albanese save postal and banking services with a post office bank? - Australian Citizens Party
Cited text: A year later, in Senate Estimates on 11 November 2024, Senator Ross Cadell noted to Paul Graham that at the rate of closures since July 2024, Australi...
Excerpt: projections suggesting 100 closures by June 2025
https://citizensparty.org.au/media-...-and-banking-services-with-a-post-office-bank
Paul Graham's Senate Estimates Opening Statement | Mirage News
Cited text: Despite reporting an $88.5 million loss in the past financial year, our Post26 strategy and modernisation reforms have set the business on a more sust...
Excerpt: an $88.5 million loss in the 2024 financial year
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-grahams-senate-estimates-opening-statement-1351167/
Australia Post—Australian Postal Corporation (via Public) / Mr Paul Graham Senate Estimates opening statement Tuesday 24 October 2023
Cited text: As you know, Australia Post is an entirely self-funded business, and we recently posted a $200-million loss.
Excerpt: a $200 million loss the previous year
https://www.publicnow.com/view/C2DCA29567A5E172E051430ADB9E9D7450FC5997
Paul Graham's Senate Estimates Opening Statement, Oct 24, 2023 | Mirage News
Cited text: As you know, Australia Post is an entirely self-funded business, and we recently posted a $200-million loss.
Excerpt: a $200 million loss the previous year
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-grahams-senate-estimates-opening-statement-1110159/
Paul Graham's Senate Estimates Opening Statement, Oct 24, 2023 | Mirage News
Cited text: Australia Post's Parcels business continues to achieve steady growth and the e-commerce market will see significant growth over the next decade, but o...
Excerpt: Letters business losses increased by more than 50 per cent to $384 million
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-grahams-senate-estimates-opening-statement-1110159/
Reason behind Australia Post exec bonuses as it books loss
Cited text: Letter volumes have plunged 66 per cent since 2008, though Australia Post is still required by law to deliver all mail to Australian addresses, adding...
Excerpt: Letter volumes have plunged 66 per cent since 2008
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2024/10/31/australia-post-bonuses
Revised Statement of Expectations for Australia Post | Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure
Cited text: The Albanese Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to help Australia Post modernise and meet changing needs of consumers and small bus...
Excerpt: a revised Statement of Expectations in July 2024, outlining requirements for maintaining essential postal services and avoiding planned closures in communities where the post office is the only remaining provider of face-to-face postal and…
https://minister.infrastructure.gov...revised-statement-expectations-australia-post
Revised Statement of Expectations for Australia Post | Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure
Cited text: “Importantly, we recognise the vital role that Australia Post plays in communities, particularly those without face-to-face postal and financial servi...
Excerpt: Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasised the government's expectation that Australia Post will continue providing services in areas where closure would leave a community without essential services
https://minister.infrastructure.gov...revised-statement-expectations-australia-post
Paul Graham's Senate Estimates Opening Statement | Mirage News
Cited text: According to recently published APRA data, the big four banks had a net reduction of 190 branches over the past financial year. And while Australian b...
Excerpt: While the big four banks reduced their branches by 190 in the past financial year—a 41 per cent reduction since 2017—post offices have only seen a 4 per cent reduction in the same period
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-grahams-senate-estimates-opening-statement-1351167/
Paul Graham Delivers Opening Statement at 2024 Senate Estimates | Mirage News
Cited text: As a result, Bank@Post is on a mid-term trajectory of significant losses, unless our bank partners provide additional funding.
Excerpt: Bank@Post was on track for significant losses until Australia Post negotiated new agreements with major banks
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-graham-delivers-opening-statement-at-2024-1258158/
Paul Graham's Senate Estimates Opening Statement | Mirage News
Cited text: We expect Bank@Post will make a loss, and we are working with the banks to negotiate new agreements that reflect the changing circumstances, return a ...
Excerpt: Bank@Post was on track for significant losses until Australia Post negotiated new agreements with major banks
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-grahams-senate-estimates-opening-statement-1351167/
Paul Graham's Senate Estimates Opening Statement | Mirage News
Cited text: We have allowed the banks to leave town with their reputations intact, but we cannot and should not subsidise this essential service to the benefit of...
Excerpt: As Paul Graham put it: 'We have allowed the banks to leave town with their reputations intact, but we cannot and should not subsidise this essential service to the benefit of the banks' bottom line'
https://www.miragenews.com/paul-grahams-senate-estimates-opening-statement-1351167/
Post Office and retail updates—Australia Post
Cited text: From 1 September 2025, we will no longer offer new policies for car, home, contents and landlord insurance.
Excerpt: 7NEWS counted 39 post offices within 5km of Sydney's CBD
https://auspost.com.au/disruptions-and-updates/post-office-and-retail-updates
Could Post office banks reduce Aust Post closures and help elderly locals
Cited text: Chris Grice, chief executive of National Seniors Australia, said the advocacy organisation supported the concept of post offices getting a banking lic...
Excerpt: National Seniors Australia CEO Chris Grice supports the concept of post offices getting banking licenses, noting that the closure of both a post office and local bank can often spell the demise of a community
https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/8884652/postal-banks-urged-amid-closures-in-australia/
73 post offices gone in 2024! When will Albanese save postal and banking services with a post office bank? - Australian Citizens Party
Cited text: A postal bank is the solution!
Excerpt: Advocacy groups are pushing for a 'post office people's bank' as a potential solution
https://citizensparty.org.au/media-...-and-banking-services-with-a-post-office-bank
73 post offices gone in 2024! When will Albanese save postal and banking services with a post office bank? - Australian Citizens Party
Cited text: Or as a PM who gave Aussies a new People’s Bank in post offices, and thus saved both banking and postal services?” · Click here to sign the Citizens P...
Excerpt: Advocacy groups are pushing for a 'post office people's bank' as a potential solution
https://citizensparty.org.au/media-...-and-banking-services-with-a-post-office-bank
Could Post office banks reduce Aust Post closures and help elderly locals
Cited text: Mr Grice said Bank@Post meant post offices currently were only a handling service for banks. 'We think folk in regional and rural Australia deserve mo...
Excerpt: This would give rural and regional Australians 'more than just a handling service,' according to National Seniors Australia
https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/8884652/postal-banks-urged-amid-closures-in-australia/
Opening Statement Senate Estimates 13 February 2024 | Mirage News
Cited text: There are more Post O?ces than supermarkets in Australia and we are required by regulation to maintain a national network of 4000 outlets. This is not...
Excerpt: Australia Post CEO Paul Graham has argued that maintaining 4,000 outlets nationally—more than the number of supermarkets—is 'not sustainable'
https://www.miragenews.com/opening-statement-senate-estimates-13-february-1172836/
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