Amanda Stoker (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) confirms the importance of Australia Post outlets to regional and rural Queensland, particularly those in outer regional and remote towns, where they are an important and often critical community and business facility supporting locals in a range of everyday services, allowing them to communicate and carry out business;

(b) expresses its support for the continued operation of these services in the:

  (i) 90 communities classified as 'very remote' communities,

  (ii) 59 communities classified as 'remote' communities, and

  (iii) 204 communities classified as 'outer regional' communities;

(c) notes that these services are essential for the development of regional and rural economies, resilient communities and core to ensuring the connectivity of regional, rural and remote people to the rest of Australia;

(d) encourages Australia Post to pursue every opportunity to ensure their ongoing operation in existing locations; and

(e) calls on Australia Post to bring forward a new Licensed Office payment agreement that ensures licensees who operate post offices are paid fairly.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor supports this motion. However, we ask: what has the Liberal and National government done to better support all licensees—urban, regional, rural and remote—across all states and territories? Australia Post licensees have been crying out for fairer remuneration from Australia Post across the terms of the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments. Ministers Fifield and Cormann must not give false hope to Australia Post licensees. Either put up or shut up.

Question agreed to.