As the sun rises over the quiet streets of Australian suburbs, some residents wake up to a puzzling and frustrating change: the familiar red Australia Post boxes that once dotted their neighbourhoods have vanished.

This sudden disappearance has left many locals, especially the elderly, in a lurch, as they now have to travel further to mail a letter.

Removing these iconic postboxes from one East Coast suburb has sparked outrage among residents, with some feeling blindsided by Australia Post's lack of communication.

Retiree Rene is one such resident who has felt the impact of this change.

She expressed her dismay to A Current Affair, highlighting the plight of those who rely on these services the most.

Australia Post removed five postboxes from Southport, causing inconvenience and outrage among residents. Credit: iStock

'I feel sorry for those little old ladies who want to mail their grandkids a present and do it in time, but they don't have a car. How will they get their present in the mail for Christmas?' Rene lamented.

The decline in physical mail has been a global trend, with Australia experiencing a 65 per cent reduction in letter volumes since 2006.

The digital revolution, further accelerated by the pandemic, has significantly shifted towards online communication.

However, despite this trend, a steadfast segment of the population remains, particularly among the elderly and those in rural areas, who depend on traditional mail services.

Australia Post has defended its decision, stating that it still operates over 14,000 postboxes nationwide, exceeding the regulatory requirement of 10,000.

‘As we continue to see mail decline, we remove some street posting boxes that are not frequently used, subject to vandalism or in areas where we have significant overlap,’ the spokesperson said.

Yet, the heart of the issue for many is not the rationale behind the removals but the need for more transparency and communication from Australia Post.

Residents like Rene call for at least one postbox to remain in Southport for convenience and ask for clear information on future changes.

'Just tell us what you're doing, don't just take them away,' she urged.

Adding to the concerns is the looming increase in stamp prices.

Australia Post has proposed raising the cost of a basic postage stamp from $1.50 to $1.70 starting 1 July 2025.

This move is intended to offset the financial losses incurred by Australians' declining letter-sending habits.

While concession and seasonal greeting stamp prices are set to remain unchanged, the increase will predominantly affect business and government customers.

Australia Post's Group chief executive officer and managing director, Paul Graham, emphasised the necessity of the price hike to ensure the postal service's financial sustainability, particularly for rural and regional communities.

Key Takeaways

• Australia Post removed five postboxes from Southport without providing prior notice, causing inconvenience and outrage among residents, especially retirees.
• Letter volumes in Australia have reduced significantly, with a 65 per cent decrease since 2006 and a shift towards digital communication.
• Australia Post defends its actions by stating it operates more than the regulatory requirement of postboxes and considers factors such as demand, vandalism, and safety when deciding to remove them.
• Australia Post has proposed to increase basic stamp prices from $1.50 to $1.70 to offset losses in its letters business as more people choose digital communication methods. Concession and seasonal greeting stamp prices will not be affected.

Have you been affected by the removal of postboxes in your area? How do you feel about the proposed stamp price increase? Join the conversation in the comments below.

 

[Liz]

I know our local box which is quite a walk for me, you cannot guarantee your letter will get there. Subsequently, I have to go to the business post office which is the cost of a taxi there and back. However, we do you have good posties coming to my street of unit complexes. One postie joked with me that I kept him in a job with my letters and parcels.

 

[allanjackand molly]

might as well get stuck into us to just like every thing else thats going on

 

[GrannyJA!]

I haven't been affected by the changes, but then I'm still mobile. Unfortunately Australia Post is a business and no business is going to willingly run at a loss. I do agree that transparency is essential, especially for those who are not so agile and perhaps not able to keep up with the changes in technology.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I can remember the days when the postie came twice a day, blowing his whistle to let you know you had mail.
Things change constantly. When we are all long and gone people will joke about how we used to write on paper, put it in an envelope, pay for a stamp, post it and wait an eternity for it to be delivered.
Email, it's there in seconds.
There's no way of stopping the future.
It took me quite a long time, with constant nagging from my son, to get a mobile phone, learn how to send emails, etc until I finally accepted that I had to go with the flow or get left behind.

 

[Mika in the van]

How many people would use a postbox to mail gifts to grand children etc
That's a bit of a silly statement.
You actually need to take them into the PO to find out the cost.
Even oversized letters these days do not go for a standard mail cost so not much sense in taking a wild guess and leaving the recipient to pay at the other end.
I live in a very small country town and we would probably need to take an extra ten steps to go inside the PO if our mailbox was removed. Hardly a great hardship.

Wow, as This article states, not everyone can drive into town. It’s not talking about a post box near the post office either.

 

[Mika in the van]

They state they are losing money because no one posts letters any more…
what about the massive increase in on line shopping and the huge costs they charge to post a parcel?
total BS Australia Post.
And lucky if you get mail delivered in rural SA. While most of Australia gets mail delivery for free, rural South Australians (starting from 2 kilometers out of town) have to pay for a post box and drive into town to get mail. It might be discounted but it’s still not free!

 

[TD1]

Post boxes should be conveniently situated, Eg.outside Shoppping Centres, next to parks, and train stations.
, (most people shop) with parking available.
not on busy traffic roads.
auspost hasn’t changed post boxes or post offfices in WA for over 50 years
personally I think Auspost directors are overpaid and contribute to the high cost of postage.

 

[TD1]

perhaps Auspost has registered a loss due to building numerous multimillion dollar Sorting Centres, with machinery, in most Australian States, where mail and parcels are transported /diverted to before delivery.

 

[Barbara V]

Yes post is deplorable took 24 days for a birthday card to arrive from UK,not a record one took 4mnths it had WA on it and it went to every country until it finally arrived in Queensland and got to me from there

 

[Colette 3799]

We dont have a post box within walking distance where we live, so I can’t really comment - what you’ve never had, you never miss. I have to say though with all the complaints about Australia post we have the most awesome staff here. From the people in the post office to the delivery people - letters and parcels, they are the most helpful, pleasant people to deal with. Since we moved here I have never had a lost parcel or a missed delivery. I even one day had the delivery guy apologise for taking my parcel to the post office as he didn’t want it to get wet from the rain. I told him not to apologise and that I was very grateful for his thoughtfulness.

 

[Luckyus]

So typical of mismanagement. Bosses are paid thousands of dollars to mismanage public mail

The same could be said for those of the political persuasion, only they do it on a grander scale.

 

[Haka76]

Disgusting Australia Post

 

[Greentrees]

I went recently to post an article at a post box near my home. For once I read the information on the box only to find the service had been removed. I could have posted my letter & it would have never been sent. If they must remove a service then, at least remove the box also. I wonder how many items are resting on the bottom of that box.had been How many people would use a postbox to mail gifts to grand children etc
That's a bit of a silly statement.
You actually need to take them into the PO to find out the cost.
Even oversized letters these days do not go for a standard mail cost so not much sense in taking a wild guess and leaving the recipient to pay at the other end.
I live in a very small country town and we would probably need to take an extra ten steps to go inside the PO if our mailbox was removed. Hardly a great hardship.

 

[jay2]

Who can afford to send a letter these days

Only pensioners who get a reduced rate for stamps. jay2

 

[gordon1940]

Is it any wonder they are losing money. Reduced services and convenience and increased prices are a recipe for disaster. If you want to compete with on line letter WOR you need to make your service more affordable and easy to use. Also if they taught kids how to write at school might help

My Mother was a caring person. She taught me so that when I went to School I could, basically, Read, Write, and Count. A very good start to Schooling.

 

[David567]

Up goes the prices
Down goes the service.
Been waiting for a parcel from Dandenong for 4 weeks. Still sitting at the depot.

 

[Ebby]

I can remember the days when the postie came twice a day, blowing his whistle to let you know you had mail.
Things change constantly. When we are all long and gone people will joke about how we used to write on paper, put it in an envelope, pay for a stamp, post it and wait an eternity for it to be delivered.
Email, it's there in seconds.
There's no way of stopping the future.
It took me quite a long time, with constant nagging from my son, to get a mobile phone, learn how to send emails, etc until I finally accepted that I had to go with the flow or get left behind.

ln the UK they pushed letters through the letterbox in your door in the morning and midday

 

[oldsalt]

Who can afford to send a letter these

 

[oldsalt]

$1.50 going up to $1.70 and no doubt taking longer to get to the destination than it does now. Sometimes mail from overseas gets delivered sooner than local or interstate mail does. Then again the Pony Express rider on the Sydney to Perth trip has to stop and water the horses at the stage coach stops on the way across.

 

[Gerrit H. Schorel-Hlavka]

I can understand that Australia Post desires to at least have its services to be financial viable, however, the Framers of the constitution were well aware that some colonies had profits and others losses in postal services and telegraph, etc. Nevertheless, they decided to transfer it all to the commonwealth so that a general postal charge would eventuate regardless of where a person resided within Australia. They opposed to have the telecommunication in private hands as they made clear that they considered this was an error in the USA. They also held that the Minister would be personally involved with even the trucks, etc.

In reality despite of s69 of the constitution John Howard sold of part of Telstra, clearly in violation to the legal principles embedded in the constitution. Australia Post rather than to be the sole entity dealing with letters and parcels now has numerous other businesses involved just not for Australia Post. meaning that Australia Post is suffering unduly not because of the customer base but because politicians blatantly disregarded to act within constitutional principles.

Let’s see what the Framers of the Constitution stated about the telephone, postal and other services:





style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Hansard 17-3-1898 Constitution Convention Debateslang=EN-US style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> (Official Record of the Debates of the National Australasian Convention)
QUOTE Mr. CARRUTHERS:

It is just as important that the Federal Government shall have the care and management of the vehicles which carry human beings and their goods as that it should have the care and [start page 769] management of the vehicles or ways which carry letters and telegrams.

END QUOTE





(Writers note: Notice they even refer to “management of the vehicles” not just photo opportunities for a Minister!)



And:

style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Hansard 17-3-1898 Constitution Convention Debateslang=EN-US style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> (Official Record of the Debates of the National Australasian Convention)
QUOTE Mr. CARRUTHERS:

If you give over the telegraph and postal business you thereby hand to the custody of the Federal Government all the local appointments-the appointing of the postmasters, clerks, and other officers, who do not do national, but the purest local business; and you at once raise up a large army of civil servants, the influence of which we want to dissociate from our national life

END QUOTE



(Writers note: Notice they refer to appointments of officers etc and “large army of civil servants” clearly this relates to Commonwealth Management, not some private company)

If therefore instead of all those fat cats the Minister actually perform the task he/she is supposed to do, and get rid of the undue fat cats that alone will save a lot of monies. Then also make sure that all letters and parcels are within the umbrella of Australia Post and then again Australia Post earning will beyond doubt increase significant. But obviously the problem is that the Minister instead of having the ability of a blame game when something was going wrong then could only blame himself/herself and now that surely cannot be reasonable, can it? After all, regardless if the internet system is an alternative for many, letters and postal deliveries remain for many the only option. Hence, the removal of the red pillar boxes should be halted and those removed to be reinstates. Many pillar boxes are now in place which are neither red or yellow but where the mailman collect his mail from that he has to deliver. Therefore, in my view appropriate management can turn the fortunes of Australia Post around without minimizing services, just to operate as the legal principles embedded in the constitution provides for!