ADJOURNMENT

Ms AMBIHAIPAHAR (Barton) (19:54): I rise tonight to speak on a matter of deep frustration, serious consequence and pressing urgency to my community—the closure of Australia Post offices in my electorate, particularly in Rockdale and Kingsgrove. As the member for Barton, I feel the weight of every constituent who has lost vital access, and I stand here demanding change in process and accountability by Australia Post.

About a year ago, Australia Post shut the Rockdale post office, and today the Kingsgrove post office, very much a fixture of the community, has been officially closed. These are not just buildings being closed; these are community lifelines being severed with little warning, little explanation and no consultation. Let me tell you of the human consequences.

Older people and those with mobility challenges are being forced to travel farther or, worse, are unable to access postal, bill payment, identity or banking services altogether. In my electorate, many constituents who come from a culturally diverse backgrounds are reliant on face to face. That's very important for trusted services and such.

Some have already told me that they are not comfortable with digital alternatives or to travel far. Local small businesses in close proximity to these post offices use the postal services for daily parcel supplies et cetera. Their operations have been disrupted, their costs are increasing, and they're facing inconvenience—for example, having to close their shops longer to go to another post office farther away.

For many, it's not just a matter of convenience; it's also about equity. Those already disadvantaged lose further ground when essential access is taken away. What is most galling, what I cannot tolerate, is the opaque and top-down method that Australia Post is using to make these closures.

We are repeatedly told that decisions are made on grounds of 'decline in foot traffic', which is essentially code for 'financial losses', which are shrouded by commercial in confidence. That has to change. We see a pattern—little or no warning, no transparent criteria, no genuine consultation and no accountability once a decision is made.

If Australia Post wants licence to modernise, prioritise and evolve, that is understandable, but the public has the right to know. The community must be heard, and the decision-making must be transparent. I've taken this fight to the ground.

I've door-knocked Kingsgrove, Rockdale and precincts around the post offices. I've spoken to senior residents, business owners and mothers doing errands at their local precincts, people who cannot afford extra travel. I have launched a petition, gathering signatures and stories.

I want to also acknowledge the tireless advocacy of the Kingsgrove community centre, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with residents in raising their concerns and mobilising the community's voice, and also local resident Liwen Huan, who has also advocated. Their work is a testament to the strength of the local community, who refuse to let their community be ignored.

Enough is enough. Australia Post cannot continue to abandon suburbs such as Rockdale and Kingsgrove without warning, without reasons and without respect for the people who rely on them. First let me say that Rockdale has already taken one blow with the closure of its post office.

Now, to add insult to injury, Australia Post is removing the post boxes from Rockdale as well. It is slowly dismantling essential services, piece by piece, decision by decision. It leaves residents furious, and rightly so. 'What's next?' they ask.

Here is what has to happen. We need to put a stop to any further closures or removals of post offices in Barton until proper community consultation is done. We need to publish the real reasons and criteria for these closures and removals, stop hiding behind 'commercial in confidence' as if the community doesn't deserve an explanation and hold open community meetings with residents, business owners, councils and local organisations, like Kingsgrove Community Centre.

Bring the community along with the decision-making. It's not hard. Don't do it behind closed doors.

Go back and review those closures for Rockdale and Kingsgrove. Were they justified? What has been the impact?

Australia Post is operating like it's privatised and can quietly cut and run. It is a public service. It's a community anchor.

The people of Barton—the older residents, the core community and small businesses—will not stand by while it's hollowed out. I call on Australia Post leadership to look my community in the eye and answer the simple question: are you here to serve the people or are you here to abandon them? House adjourned at 20:00