SWAN Hill residents aren’t particularly fussed about the possibility of paying more for stamps, as Australia Post looks to reform its delivery service.
The Federal Government has approved Australia Post’s request to introduce a two-speed mail service model, whereby regular letters will cost 30c extra ($1 instead of 70c) and take two days to get delivered.
Premium letters — with next day delivery — will cost even more, though the price is still to be determined. Australia Post is seeking permission from the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), for the reforms.
Local residents approached on the street, like Swan Hill’s Sylvia Dempsey, were mostly stoic about the changes.
“A lot of people — especially older people — rely on the post office so what will they do if it closes down?” she said.
“They can’t go online to do their banking and stuff like that, so they really need the post office.
“It’s sort of a situation where you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
For more on this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (March 6).
