General News
12 August, 2026
Post office jitters
RESIDENTS in Babinda and across the Cassowary Coast region are being urged to rally behind their local post offices, as fears mount that a shifting Australia Post corporate strategy could negatively change counter services and “face-to-face” customer engagement.
At the centre of community concern is the potential rollout of parcel-focused, automated self-service retail formats that drastically reduce or eliminate traditional counter services.
The Licensed Post Office Group (LPOG) – a national advocacy body representing post office operators – has sounded the alarm over push-button automation replacing essential community hubs across regional Queensland, including the Far North.
LPOG chairman Scott Etherington said that regional outlets like Babinda were increasingly vulnerable under current management directions aimed at cutting retail footprint costs.
“Babinda could be a most likely location to be converted to avoid the cost of face-to-face services for Australia Post,” Mr Etherington warned in correspondence to The Observer.
He noted that, while the potential threat is real, the town remains fortunate to have strong local advocacy fighting on the ground to preserve existing personal services.
“However, the plan has to get around the local licensee, and you have a very strong and committed licensee, so it would be a struggle at Babinda because she would put up a fight to preserve services for her community,” he said.
“The post office at Babinda is a thriving business, serving the community and tourists, and the surrounding areas very well, with a keen and enthusiastic licensee.
“There is absolutely no reason that this LPO should be challenged at all, other than the commercial realities being forced onto the network by the management of Australia Post.”
A federal senate inquiry has been closely examining how Australia Post manages its retail footprint and the vital role Licensed Post Offices (LPOs) play in keeping country towns connected.
Community members, small business owners and regional leaders have provided essential first-hand evidence detailing what local post offices provide beyond standard mail delivery.
In towns, including Babinda, the post office acts as a vital access point for ‘Bank@Post’ services, bill payments, passport verification, Medicare and government identity checks.
For regional townships, the group says losing face-to-face counter service impacts elderly residents, locals without internet access and isolated farmers relying on regular face-to-face contact.
“If people drive out of our rural communities for services, like banking and bill pay, ID and government services, they generally conduct all their business out of town,” Mr Etherington said.
“We also lose the connection to our people that we have when we see each other in, and out, and around the post office.
“We notice each other and we connect. That is not an abstract thing – quite often it is the only time people living in isolation do connect outside of their lives.
“That social inclusion is vital for so many community members and adds to our overall wellbeing.”
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