ADJOURNMENT

Ms THWAITES (Jagajaga) (13:03): I rise to share the concern and disappointment of my community about Australia Post's decision to close the post office at the Bell Street Mall in Heidelberg West. Residents are very worried, rightly so, about how this will affect their daily lives and their access to essential services. I am particularly concerned about the fact that there wasn't consultation from Australia Post before they made this decision, and, of course, I am concerned about the impact this is going to have on the community.

This closure will restrict access to important services such as parcel collection, PO boxes and banking—those everyday services that community members expect from their local post office. Its closure will be disruptive. It will be difficult for residents who rely on it the most, and they include people who are elderly and people who have challenges with mobility—people for whom it is not an option to go to another, nearby post office.

I should point out that the nearest post offices to this one are more than a kilometre away. It is just not an option for those people to get themselves there. For many of these people, it is more than just a post office.

It's an essential service that supports their daily life and their business activity. I'm really aware of the crucial role at Australia Post and its post offices play in providing this community service and in providing a service to people with disability, older residents and others who may find it difficult to access services online or in a further away place.

I've certainly raised these concerns directly with Australia Post. I have requested that they reconsider their decision, and I've met with them to discuss that and options for the future. I really do urge Australia Post to reconsider their decision to close the Heidelberg West Post Shop.

This is an essential service for the local community. It deserves to continue. The community in Heidelberg West deserves to have this essential service.

Our local people have been telling me this themselves. My petition calling for the post office to remain open, which I've only had open for a couple of weeks, already has more than 300 people who have signed onto it. There is a real recognition in this community about the value of this local service.

I'm particularly concerned and dismayed by this decision, given that there is currently major investment going into the area of 3081 from all levels of government. The Bell-Bardia housing estate, which is currently being rebuilt with support from both the federal and state Labor governments, sits right outside this area. In fact there will be 104 new homes just on the doorstop of where this post office is being closed.

Nearby there are 307 new homes being built on Bell Street in Ivanhoe, and 25 more are planned in nearby Bellfield, funded through our Housing Australia Future Fund. In fact 3081 is one of the fastest growing communities in my electorate, with new families and residents taking advantage of the proximity to the city, of good local shops and of our medical precinct in Heidelberg.

Planned local infrastructure upgrades, such as the new community pavilion at Shelley Park in Heidelberg Heights, which is being funded by our government, are further strengthening this community. There's investment going in. There are people going in.

It does not make sense for Australia Post to be dropping this service that those local people continue to depend on. It runs absolutely counter to the broader commitment to this very important area that I have; that I know my state colleague, Anthony Carbines, the member for Ivanhoe, has; and that I know the local council has. Locals have, as I said, been conveying their disappointment to me.

Leanne from Heidelberg Heights shared with me: There are many elderly and disabled residents that utilise this post office. Most are unable to travel further to other post offices. I myself have a disability.

To close this post office will be unfair and discriminatory towards the community. Bernadette from Heidelberg West says: The community of Heidelberg West needs this post office. It will be devastating to the businesses in the mall if it closes.

Elizabeth from Bellfield said: Very disappointed, this is our closest post office. They have also removed a post-box on Oriel Road a couple of years ago. Nothing in walking distance now.

I have also been advocating to Australia Post around the restoration of red post boxes, of which quite a few have disappeared in my electorate. I want to thank Mayor Liz Nealy, Councillor Mary O'Kane, Banyule Council and state member Anthony Carbines, who have joined me in asking Australia Post to reconsider this decision to recognise how important this service is.

I've heard from the community. I've heard from businesses in the mall. We want this post office to remain open.