Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2020 made under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 on 14 May 2020 and presented to the House on 10 June 2020, be disallowed.

Hansard has recorded my previous contribution. I don't need to reheat that dinner! But I make the point that we feel strongly with respect to the moves that were being proposed within Post and the regulatory relief being provided. We've been particularly concerned about reports of posties being fatigued, leaving Australia Post or being unable to deliver the product of the day. My friend and colleague the member for Greenway will go into some detail in terms of the opposition's concerns with what has been proposed through the regulatory relief, what is now being enacted through that regulatory relief and what we are hearing on the ground is occurring in terms of workplaces. Employees of Australia Post are part of a government business enterprise that falls under the Commonwealth. Their work is valued and we should not be making their jobs harder. I think it's important that the parliament should take every opportunity to note that.

As has been flagged by the Deputy Manager of Opposition Business, we intend to keep these contributions rather tight but I do want to indicate in the strongest possible terms the concern that many of us in the opposition have with the way this regulatory relief is impacting ordinary workers in Australia Post. I welcome—and I think the House would welcome—the chance to hear from the member for Greenway who can elaborate on these matters further.

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