[Jonathan Leane]

Member Alert: Australia Post says order your presents now if you want them delivered by Christmas!​

There are only a few months left before Christmas is here, and Aussies everywhere are already scrambling to get their holiday shopping done. Why? This year, the dilemma between shopping online and in-store doesn't just have to do with the joy of exploring your local shopping centre. A lot of it also has to do with getting your gift delivered on time.

According to Australia Post, Santa and his little helpers are going to be very busy this Christmas... Source: OpenAI.​

As thousands of gifts are expected to be delivered this holiday season, Australia Post's CEO Paul Graham has urged everyone to order their presents now if they want them to be delivered on time.

Speaking at a business lunch in Melbourne, Mr Graham said that due to the ongoing labour shortages across the economy, coupled with the continuing supply chain woes caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the COVID pandemic, it will be more difficult for the postal service to meet the expected demand from a booming parcels business.

As a result, he said that people should consider their delivery schedule now if they want their presents to be on time for Christmas.

‘If we get a similar sort of sales surge as we’ve got over the past couple of years there’ll be some challenges. If people keep their money in their pockets because of interest rates we’ll probably be in good shape,’ he said.

He also said that Australia Post's pay level is not creating a ‘challenge’ in hiring extra workers for the holiday season. Rather, the company is 'really struggling like everyone else' to get enough workers.

Along with recruiting 5,000 to 7,000 extra workers for the Christmas peak, Australia Post is also on the lookout for thousands more drivers and forklift operators.

'We are all fishing in the same pool,' Mr Graham said. 'I do think it will be tight. We are at 3.4% [unemployment rate] officially but I think it’s zero actually.'

Last year, Mr Graham predicted that the parcels business would continue to grow as online shopping and e-commerce expands, and now, the country is forecast to be posting more than 1 billion parcels by 2032. In the same period, the demand for traditional letters has decreased, and they now comprise less than 20% of revenue.

He said that even with the e-commerce boom in Australia during the pandemic, the country is still lagging behind other European countries in terms of online shopping.

'We’ve only really scratched the surface and that’s going to put real pressure on our network,' he said.

'Hold on to your seats for the next six to 12 months, I think.'

Paul Graham was appointed as Australia Post CEO in April last year after the resignation of his predecessor, Christine Holgate. He previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Woolworths, Australia's largest retail company.

Members, you might want to look at doing your Christmas shopping a little early this year. Alternatively, here are a few ideas for thoughtful and practical gifts that can be delivered either electronically or in person:

- Gift cards. These can be a great option for those people in your lives who it's impossible to shop for and have the added advantage of being able to be delivered electronically (via email) these days.

- Experiences. A great way to give someone a present they'll never forget is to buy them an experience, whether it's tickets to a show or a voucher for a weekend away.

- Gift baskets. These are a nice option for those who appreciate a good hamper. You can find hampers filled with all sorts of different things, from food and wine to beauty products and homewares. You could even look at building your own!

- Subscriptions. A subscription to a magazine or online service can make a great present that keeps on giving all year round.

- Memberships. This could be anything from a gym membership to a subscription to a streaming service.

- Donations. If you're looking for a present with a difference, you could consider donating to a charity in the name of the person you're buying for.

- Homemade gifts. If you're feeling creative, you could try your hand at making something yourself. A nice option could be to bake some biscuits or a cake, some jams or chutneys, or even put together a photo album or scrapbook.

Well folks, it looks like this Christmas season is going to be a little different to usual. But with a bit of planning and creativity, you can still make it a special one! If you have any interesting or unusual gift ideas, we’d love to hear them.