Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last month in parliament I raised an important issue for the people of Wallsend and surrounding suburbs regarding their postal services. Long queues and customer wait times at Wallsend post office were getting worse, and the lack of adequate resourcing had become completely unacceptable to the community. Residents said they were waiting over half an hour to be served, and some were being turned away because the Australia Post staff didn't have the time or capacity to respond to increased customer needs.

I'd like to update the House with some good news: Australia Post has taken the concerns of the Wallsend community seriously and recently onboarded a new part-time team member at the Wallsend post office to specifically assist with the receipt and delivery of parcel items behind the counter each afternoon. I've also received advice that parcel lockers will be installed at the Wallsend Village shopping centre as an additional measure to assist in alleviating the waiting times that locals have reported. I look forward to updating the Wallsend community of their progress. This is a great win for Wallsend. The Wallsend post office services a large area, including the rapidly growing suburbs of Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi. Increased customer and community needs demanded additional investment in the workforce and postal services in the area, and I thank Australia Post for their positive response.

Postal services are essential services. They provide access to important community services and connect communities across the nation and the globe. I look forward to working with Australia Post and the people of Wallsend and surrounds to ensure that services at Wallsend post office meet community needs and expectations.

Today I also rise in parliament to celebrate the achievements of team Newcastle, who competed in the Paris Paralympics. We had such a stellar pool of talented Novocastrians taking part in the games in Paris. We had Luke Bailey competing in the para-athletics, Lauren Parker in the wheelchair triathlon and in the H1-4 and H1-3 para-cycling, Rheed McCracken in the para-athletics and Aaron Royle participating as a paralympic guide for Sam Harding. You all did Newcastle so proud. I'd like to give a special shout-out and massive congratulations to Lauren Parker, who finished with two golds in the para-triathlon and para-cycling H1-4 and one silver in the para-cycling H1-3. I am so grateful to represent an electorate which loves sport. Importantly, we love to celebrate our sporting champions as well. I thank the Paralympian champions. We pay tribute to your athleticism, and I look forward to following your careers and supporting your continued success.