Despite its poor financial performance last financial year. Australia Post has assured a Senate Estimates committee it will not be reducing services in regional and rural Australia,

The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has questioned Australia Post Chief Executive Ahmed Fahour about $150 million set aside for redundancies, and if these would be concentrated in regional areas.

Senator Williams said he was pleased to hear that Australia Post has a priority to re-deploy and re-train in areas of growth, although Mr.Fahour admitted his organisation has an ageing workforce.

“I was concerned that there would be job losses outside the cities that would severely diminish services.

I was pleased to hear Mr. Fahour dispel this and reiterate the commitment to the Community Service Obligation of retaining 2,500 post offices across rural and regional Australia.

The Chief Executive indicated he had no knowledge of media reports that some outlets could close where areas have a declining population.

This is reassuring for country communities”, Senator Williams said.