Joint media release
Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Dr Anne Webster MP
Australia Post’s Group CEO and Managing Director, Paul Graham, will have tough questions to answer when he fronts a Senate inquiry into Australia Post’s secret plans to close up to 36 metropolitan licensed post offices (LPOs) and entice regional and rural LPOs to move from perpetual to fixed-term licences as part of a ‘format conversions’ strategy.
The Coalition-led Senate inquiry, established today, will probe revelations uncovered by the Coalition in a leaked business case, Post Office Network & Licensed Post Office Reimagined dated 9 June 2026.
Mr Graham managed to avoid any mention of this secret Board-endorsed plan when he gave evidence at Senate Estimates on 27 May 2026, despite intensive questioning by Senator Henderson.
This plan involves the potential shut down of dozens of metropolitan post offices in New South Wales and Victoria, converting some into parcel handling facilities.
In regional and rural areas, Australia Post envisages widespread ‘format conversions’ of LPOs which will likely involve stripping away core functions, consolidating or relocating postal services into host businesses such as pharmacies, newsagents or convenience stores, or downsizing them to parcel agents or ultimately even just parcel lockers.
The Senate inquiry will examine the:
Management of, and plans for, Australia Post’s retail network, with particular reference to:
(a) Australia Post’s engagement with licencees, representative bodies, shareholder ministers and other stakeholders about these plans;
(b) the governance, transparency and decision-making processes underpinning these plans;
(c) the crucial role that licenced post offices play in delivering services to support local communities, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australia;
(d) alternative business models to support the sustainability of Australia Post’s retail network;
(e) the adequacy of Australia Post’s evidence to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee at the 2026-2027 Budget estimates’ hearing on 27 May 2026; and
(f) any other related matters.
Comments attributed to Sarah Henderson, Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety:
“It is unacceptable we had to find out about Australia Post’s secret plan via a leaked document instead of directly from Mr Graham when he testified at Senate Estimates last month.”
“Australia Post should halt this corrosive plan which has caused enormous uncertainty for LPO small business owners and local communities.
“Communications Minister, Anika Wells, must come clean on whether she was informed of this plan, and if so, whether she has issued any directions to the Board or taken any other action in relation to it.”
Comments attributed to Anne Webster, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications:
“Post offices are an important institution for all Australians, and the lifeblood of local communities in rural, regional and remote areas.”
“The Senate inquiry is an important opportunity to not only hold Australia Post to account, but give post office owners, and the communities they serve, a voice.”
“In contrast to the Albanese government, the Coalition is determined to fight tooth and nail for the vital services that regional communities so deserve.”