Dave Hughes joins impassioned community fight to save his local post office as he admits he is ‘devastated’ by string of Australia Post closures

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As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for community and local institutions, I cannot help but be dismayed by the news of Australia Post’s intention to close the St Kilda South post office in Melbourne. Having lived in this vibrant neighborhood for over two decades, I have witnessed firsthand the significant role this post office plays in the lives of its residents, particularly those who are elderly or disabled.

Dave Hughes, affectionately known as “Hughesy,” has become an active participant in the efforts to preserve the post office in St Kilda, Melbourne, in response to Australia Post’s recent series of closures.

On Thursdays, over a hundred locals assembled outside the St Kilda South post office to demonstrate against its impending closure. Meanwhile, the radio host, aged 53, expressed his heartfelt opinions on the matter during his broadcast.

I’ve been eagerly following Australia Post news and was dismayed to learn that they plan to close their branch by July 19. They attributed this decision to a significant decrease in visitors, reporting a disappointing 20% drop in foot traffic.

Locals strongly object to this news, maintaining that the building is essential for the neighborhood. It serves as a crucial resource for older and handicapped individuals who depend on the adjacent post office for their daily needs.

While shopping at the local branch, comedian Hughesy added his voice to the call for action during an interview with A Current Affair. The gathering place was filled with residents posting their petitions.

“I’m deeply disappointed and disheartened! It’s my neighborhood post office and they’re planning to shut it down,” Hughesy, a long-time St Kilda resident (25 years), expressed.

“This isn’t acceptable, it’s not acceptable! I’m at a loss, what can we do? This is irrational. The local post office is an essential part of our community and it shouldn’t be shut down.”

Residents of St Kilda have prepared and mailed a petition to Australia Post CEO Paul Graham in an effort to persuade him to preserve the existence of their community post office.

‘We want the post office to stay,’ long-time St Kilda resident Angel told A Current Affair.

In the meantime, MP Josh Burns from the local federal area shared that he had discussed this matter with the Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

In our recent gathering, we discussed the significance of the local post office for our community. Rest assured, I am fully committed to helping our community thrive and will continue to do so.

The Frankston post office location in southeastern Melbourne is scheduled to shut down next month, as a result of a significant decrease in foot traffic – approximately 40% fewer customers since 2020.

Locals have raised doubts about the numbers, contending that the Covid-19 pandemic from early 2020 to mid 2023 significantly reduced the number of visitors, thereby influencing the footfall data.

During that four-year span, we experienced prolonged lockdowns in Victoria, which undeniably impacted the numbers, so it’s not surprising to see lower figures, according to Janet Rosenberg, president of the Acland Street Village Business Association.

During the shutdowns, Australia Post pointed out that there were around thirty post offices in the vicinity of the St Kilda South branch, while the closest substitute was located about 1.2 km away.

Locals in St Kilda West strongly believe that going to a different branch of the establishment, such as those on St Kilda Road or Brighton Road, is not a straightforward solution for them.

Elderly residents heavily depend on having a nearby branch they can easily walk to, as they don’t own cars. With the closure of their local branch, they will need to use public transportation to access the next closest one instead.

The community strongly believed that the place was essential for local interactions, and they warned that shutting it down might decrease nearby businesses’ customer flow by discouraging residents from visiting the area.

Australia Post, with over 4,200 post offices across the country, announced a loss of approximately $200 million during the previous fiscal year. Maintaining this extensive network is no longer financially viable, suggesting possible further closures in the future.

With the increasing number of people conducting transactions online, operating a vast network of Post Offices becomes increasingly expensive, especially in urban regions where an excessive amount of these offices exist. (Source: Statement)

As a lifestyle expert, I’d be happy to share some exciting news with you! If you’re part of our team in the St Kilda South or Frankston Central area, listen up! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities coming your way. The management at Post Offices have kindly extended us offers for roles at their nearby or more conveniently located branches. So, if you’ve been looking for a change or simply want to be closer to home, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Australia Post frequently assesses the need to close, move, or establish new post offices based on current retail conditions.

Australia Post operates over 4,200 branches across the country, of which around 4,000 need to be kept open. Around 2,500 of these branches are located in rural regions. According to CEO Mr Graham, there are actually more post offices than supermarkets in certain regions.

Based on my personal experience and observation of the postal industry, I believe that Mr. Graham’s warning about closing more post offices this year was a necessary but difficult decision. As someone who relies on the postal service for both personal and professional mailings, I have seen firsthand the financial strain that has been affecting these establishments. The increasing shift towards digital communication and e-commerce has hit traditional mail services hard, leading to declining revenues and rising operational costs.

Last year’s overhaul of Australia Post’s operations led to a noteworthy enhancement in their performance during the initial half of 2024. An impressive figure of almost 100 million parcels was successfully delivered.

The service announced a temporary earnings of $33.6 million, leading numerous local politicians and post office employees to respond critically to the prospective announcements of more closures.

As an obsessed fan of Australia Post, I can’t help but feel concerned when I hear that despite a decent half-year profit, the letters business reported a substantial loss of approximately $182 million. This news comes as customer visits to post offices continue to dwindle, leaving me worried about the long-term sustainability and viability of this important institution in my country.

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment as Mr. Graham shared the news that Australia Post might be in line for another full-year loss this year, following the significant $200 million loss we experienced last financial year.

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2024-07-19 15:38