General News
26 February, 2025
Bob Katter has Australia Post CEO in his sights
The Member for Kennedy says Australia Post has lost sight of servicing bush communities.
Bob Katter has called for the immediate sacking of Australia Post CEO Paul Graham, claiming that his pursuit of profits and removal of licensed post offices (LPOs) threatens the future of essential postal and banking services in regional and remote Australia.
“Paul Graham’s arguable obsession with profiteering undermines the foundation of Australia Post,” the Member for Kennedy said.
“His decision to reduce staffed post offices is devastating communities that rely on these services.
“We are calling for his immediate removal and a change in direction at Australia Post.”
Mr Katter’s statement came after Burke Shire Council stepped in to keep postal services in Burketown, following the impending retirement of the town’s postmistress Joy Arnold.
However, the council will only sort the mail, leaving locals without a banking option and other services provided by the LPO.
Mr Katter said the temporary fix would not cut it, saying the Burketown LPO served as the central hub for mail distribution to the Gulf region.
Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp said the nation-wide closures of LPOs would undermine the ability of remote communities to thrive.
“The LPO is an absolute necessity and a vital aspect of the community,” he said.
“Australia Post did have a meeting with our council but the government needs to put up their hand to keep it going.
“With the current proposal from Australia Post, no banking can be done. This is a hindrance to our small community.
“Those from my generation can find internet banking difficult, not to mention that connectivity is unreliable, at best, in remote areas.
“Our community cannot survive without an LPO.”
Mr Katter agreed, saying it was not possible for Burketown to operate without its post office.
“The nearest post office is hours away, and the nearest banking facility is a seven-hour round trip – Burketown residents will be left absolutely isolated if they lose that service,” he said.
“We thank the Burke Shire Council for stepping in, but let’s be clear – this is just a band-aid fix.
“We need a long-term solution. We must find a permanent operator, and we need Australia Post to overhaul its approach to regional and remote Australia.
“Paul Graham’s turned Australia Post into a profit-making enterprise, when it should be a service to Australians.
“One of the greatest CEOs in recent Australian history, Christine Holgate, understood this – she never closed a single service outlet and fought to keep Australia Post serving all Australians.
“If Paul Graham’s focus is purely financial, then he needs to be removed.”
Mr Katter said he supported the calls from Angela Cramp and the LPO Group for the government to provide a subsistence payment of $100,000 to support remote LPOs, similar to how pharmacies were supported.