1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,920
Speaker 1: Joining me on the line is Licensed Post Office Group

2
00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,560
Speaker 1: National Director Terry Pullman. Good morning to.

3
00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,039
Speaker 2: You, Terry. Hi Katie, here you go.

4
00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,240
Speaker 1: Yeah, really good. Lovely to have you on the show now, Terry,

5
00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,440
Speaker 1: I was keen to have a chat to you because

6
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,040
Speaker 1: I understand that Australia Posts have come out saying that

7
00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,919
Speaker 1: they're looking to reduce the network. Tell me exactly what's

8
00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:22,720
Speaker 1: going on here, because for a lot of us, this

9
00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:24,520
Speaker 1: is the first that they're going to be hearing this.

10
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,640
Speaker 2: Okay, So earlier in the year the government called for

11
00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:36,279
Speaker 2: they did what is a community Submissions discussion paper. They

12
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,199
Speaker 2: called for submissions from everybody, including Australia Posts. So and

13
00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:46,080
Speaker 2: basically to review what's happening with post officers. I guess

14
00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,040
Speaker 2: in the NT it's a bit different. But down South

15
00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,400
Speaker 2: there's a lot of post officers in a fairly small

16
00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:55,920
Speaker 2: area and there's probably too many, even possibly in the NT,

17
00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,880
Speaker 2: and we understand that and there needs to be some

18
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,320
Speaker 2: reduction in network because it's costs Australia Posts more to

19
00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:09,640
Speaker 2: have more post offices to service those So. But and

20
00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,720
Speaker 2: the review basically with Australia Posts. They then came out

21
00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,679
Speaker 2: and said, well, actually with all the examples they've given

22
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,560
Speaker 2: this like for Ditch Post, which is in Germany, had

23
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,080
Speaker 2: twenty nine thousand outlets and they've gone to fifty and

24
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:27,280
Speaker 2: they think that's nationally. That would be nationally. So with

25
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,400
Speaker 2: a goal like that, our concern, of course is one

26
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,280
Speaker 2: you know, there's two and a half thousand plus licensed

27
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,400
Speaker 2: post offices which are all individually.

28
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,240
Speaker 3: Employ it what's the word, sorry, well.

29
00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,319
Speaker 1: Yeah, operating and employing locals.

30
00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,960
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, there's small business basically, you know, most of

31
00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,160
Speaker 2: a lot of them are mom and dad businesses in

32
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,840
Speaker 2: smaller communities. So and then you've got the ones that

33
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,480
Speaker 2: you know within the MT and are also servicing our

34
00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,920
Speaker 2: remote community and they are really your hub for many

35
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:02,920
Speaker 2: of those community.

36
00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,000
Speaker 1: Now, Terry, talk us through because some people will know you.

37
00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,120
Speaker 1: Some people listening will obviously know you, myself included. You've

38
00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,560
Speaker 1: obviously got the two outlets that you've got Berrima and

39
00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:13,480
Speaker 1: one at the UNI.

40
00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,679
Speaker 2: Is that right, Yeah, just a small one at the

41
00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,160
Speaker 2: So talk us through for.

42
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,040
Speaker 1: Those out there listening who's sort of you know who

43
00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,400
Speaker 1: maybe go to the major post office in the city

44
00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,400
Speaker 1: or you know, out to Winellie and don't go to

45
00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,040
Speaker 1: the to the licensed post office officers talk us through

46
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,239
Speaker 1: sort of how they operate and you know, and what

47
00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,320
Speaker 1: this would mean if there is a reduction.

48
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,959
Speaker 2: Well, of course, yeah, like we're a small business, so

49
00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,399
Speaker 2: we purchased the license off Australia Posts to be able

50
00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,440
Speaker 2: to operate that post office. And the interesting thing is

51
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,679
Speaker 2: like we generate income for Australia Posts and then there's

52
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,120
Speaker 2: a commission paid to us.

53
00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,680
Speaker 3: Yeah, although and say by having so.

54
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,720
Speaker 2: Many post offices around once, there's a huge value in

55
00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,799
Speaker 2: that for Australia Posts in the size of the network.

56
00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,000
Speaker 2: So the pawersil deliveries and things like that and just

57
00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:15,200
Speaker 2: the footprint. And Australia Posts has obligations on behalf the

58
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:20,079
Speaker 2: government for community service obligations, so they have to be

59
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,480
Speaker 2: in those locations. But then what happens is the government

60
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,120
Speaker 2: aren't actually paying that, so Australia Posts are having to

61
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,239
Speaker 2: foot that. So therefore a lot of the time the

62
00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,280
Speaker 2: smaller licensees are actually futting that bill on behalf of

63
00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,640
Speaker 2: the government because we're doing a lot of work that

64
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:43,480
Speaker 2: you know is unpaid or very poorly paid. So to

65
00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,240
Speaker 2: reduce the network, and I guess there's a part of

66
00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,240
Speaker 2: LPO group and negotiations that we're having and with what

67
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:55,200
Speaker 2: we're seeing is that and they're talking about natural attrition

68
00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,960
Speaker 2: now that basically means this is you know in their

69
00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:03,880
Speaker 2: twenty post only twenty six vision. So natural attrition to

70
00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:08,640
Speaker 2: me is a sexiation or suffocation. They'll reduce payments, they'll

71
00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,800
Speaker 2: reduce the services that licensed post offices will be able

72
00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,560
Speaker 2: to perform, and they'll have to shut. So there's no

73
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,799
Speaker 2: plan at this point. The government are providing no support

74
00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,680
Speaker 2: with regards to you know, like Telsa recently they brought

75
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,920
Speaker 2: back all the outlet. Well that's not sounding like that's

76
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,080
Speaker 2: the way that Australia posts are going to go. So

77
00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,120
Speaker 2: natural autrition, they'll just let them shut north away. So

78
00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,039
Speaker 2: to a lot of dad businesses, that yeah, good annoying.

79
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,880
Speaker 1: Well that's right, it's going to be annoying for the

80
00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,880
Speaker 1: mom and dad businesses. But then when you look at

81
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,840
Speaker 1: some of those more regional and remote areas that you

82
00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,400
Speaker 1: know you're seeing banks no longer having like the shopfront

83
00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,480
Speaker 1: in places like Catherine, you know, you're seeing like those

84
00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,880
Speaker 1: licensed post offices. I would imagine in some of those

85
00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,280
Speaker 1: locations are absolutely.

86
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,920
Speaker 2: Pivotal, absolutely like you know, and then they want to

87
00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,360
Speaker 2: put vending machines and parcel lockers. We'll try to get

88
00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,160
Speaker 2: out to them and getting your you know, men and

89
00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,000
Speaker 2: Greta are in six of those machines when they've broken down.

90
00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,960
Speaker 2: And then meanwhile, the community doesn't necessarily have access you know,

91
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,080
Speaker 2: to many of the services that they still do. So

92
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,680
Speaker 2: I think it's I know, I spoke to lag at

93
00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,480
Speaker 2: the other day. They put into submission to the Local

94
00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,400
Speaker 2: Government Association and TE so they deal with a lot

95
00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,120
Speaker 2: of the local councils and they were really concerned and

96
00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,040
Speaker 2: they're certainly concerned about you know, what the management of

97
00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,120
Speaker 2: straight Posts come out with. So we're just hoping the

98
00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,279
Speaker 2: government gets behind and goes yeah, no, yeah, not going

99
00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,600
Speaker 2: to happen, although they're not supposed to because it's not

100
00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,320
Speaker 2: supposed to be political interference. But we've seen that happen

101
00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:57,000
Speaker 2: before recently. Yeah, watching, Yeah, that's right. I think that's

102
00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,320
Speaker 2: the last time you and I strike, Terry.

103
00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,040
Speaker 1: You know, tell me like how far you know, like

104
00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,560
Speaker 1: what are the next steps I suppose and and how

105
00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,720
Speaker 1: you know, how realistic is this that it could come

106
00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:10,800
Speaker 1: into fruition.

107
00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,640
Speaker 2: Well, it's you know, it's what Australia Posts. You know

108
00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,040
Speaker 2: plan is that's what they put in their submissions. So

109
00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,440
Speaker 2: essentially they do that. You know, the government will do

110
00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:28,680
Speaker 2: this sole access information from all the different parties and

111
00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:32,440
Speaker 2: that if Australia Post, if the government support Australia Posted

112
00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,240
Speaker 2: to do that, then I guess that that's where we're

113
00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,600
Speaker 2: what we're looking at. So yeah, it's yeah, yeah, it's

114
00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,800
Speaker 2: pretty concerning when you think of how many You know,

115
00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,600
Speaker 2: a few years ago we had an amazing leader who

116
00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,280
Speaker 2: was you know, the business was vibrant and there was

117
00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,400
Speaker 2: opportunity opportunities that you know she was bringing into the business.

118
00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:59,000
Speaker 2: But you know, like banks, you know, they weren't paying

119
00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,600
Speaker 2: for the services post.

120
00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:01,120
Speaker 3: Officers are doing.

121
00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,119
Speaker 2: They're leaving town.

122
00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,600
Speaker 3: But then they weren't paying but they were making huge profits.

123
00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,840
Speaker 3: The most Christie I can remember Chris then home, why

124
00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,040
Speaker 3: they should be paying us to do that work? You

125
00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,280
Speaker 3: know they can leave, but they need to pay for

126
00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:16,960
Speaker 3: somebody else to do it.

127
00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:20,800
Speaker 1: Oh look, I just hope that you know, at the

128
00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,760
Speaker 1: end of this, it doesn't mean that you know, like

129
00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,240
Speaker 1: that there are mum and dad businesses losing out, but

130
00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,320
Speaker 1: also that you know people that live rural and remote

131
00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,760
Speaker 1: that we seem to have lost terry there for some reason.

132
00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,600
Speaker 1: But yeah, that people that do live rural and remote

133
00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,040
Speaker 1: that they're not in a situation where, you know where,

134
00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,080
Speaker 1: they're not able to actually have those services those of

135
00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,440
Speaker 1: us that live in bigger capital cities are able to have.

136
00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,320
Speaker 1: So it just seems, you know, pretty absurd to me

137
00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,800
Speaker 1: when you look at the way that regional Australia and

138
00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,920
Speaker 1: remote Australia gets shafted at different times, it's pretty disappointing.