A post office in Kemps Creek in Sydney, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Source: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito
Licensed post offices across Australia are “struggling to remain viable”, a new petition says, arguing restrictions on the types of products and services they provide should be lifted to boost profitability.
Beyond the post offices controlled by Australia Post, small businesses own and operate around 2,900 licensed post offices (LPOs) across the country.
They offer traditional postage delivery and pick-up, bill payment and select banking services, and are free to offer additional services, like newsagency sales and lottery tickets.
Many LPOs also offer a selection of homewares, toys, and accessories, acting as variety stores for their communities.
While demand for parcel delivery and pick-up services has expanded in recent years, the withering of Australia Post’s letter-sending business, and the transition to online banking services, has battered the LPO sector.
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