Australia lockdown truckers drivers#

The result was tempered by the continued decline in letter volumes – down 11.6 per cent – leading to a fall in letters revenue of $202 million.

“Once we get through and everyone has had the opportunity to be vaccinated, I think that is the time for that discussion.”Īustralia Post’s $100 million profit came after a 10.3 per cent jump in total revenue to $8.27 billion, despite dire warnings of financial ruin by government-appointed consultants and the fallout over the departure of former CEO Christine Holgate. “It’s difficult to mandate at the moment when a large proportion of the workforce hasn’t had access to vaccines,” he said. Mr Fletcher said that Australia Post had reversed the decision to assist food producers across Australia, including cheesemakers in Tasmania, cured meat producers in South Australia and butter producers in Brisbane.ĭespite the high take-up of vaccinations by staff, including working with health authorities to get priority access given their essential worker status, Mr Boys said Australia Post was yet to determine whether vaccinations would be made mandatory. The federal Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher, also announced on Tuesday that he had reversed a move by Australia Post to discontinue the carriage of perishable goods due to complex state and territory regulatory requirements. If we keep making it harder for truckies to do their job, the system will fall over and Victorians won’t have the goods they need,” opposition spokeswoman for ports and freight Roma Britnell said. “The supply chain is already pushed to the brink.

Australia lockdown truckers drivers#

They warned that truck drivers were refused entry into South Australia after testing requirements were changed on Monday and called for state governments to immediately implement a uniform set of rules for interstate freight to stop confusion. Lockdown rules are being tightened for interstate freight drivers, which the Victorian opposition warned was causing chaos. “We would normally have 4000 or 5000 additional people, but we are 500 people less, so there is significant pressure on the supply chain right at the minute and our merchants are finding the exact same problems.” That has had a significant impact at a time when we are dealing with Christmas-like volumes. On any given day we would have about 500 people at home waiting for a negative test result before they get back to work. “In our facilities having to social distance, the staff have to wear masks the whole time, staggered start times and shifts. “Internally, borders opening and closing and staying closed and just the uncertainty of getting across borders with COVID-19 tests and essential worker passes” had increased pressures, Mr Boys told The Australian Financial Review. That had been a real challenge and a significant cost. “Internationally there are no flights coming or going, so we are chartering planes, up to 20 freighters ourselves, to get parcels out,” he said. More than nine million households are now regularly shopping online in a “structural shift” that Mr Boys warned was putting massive pressure on its supply lines. Justin McManusĭespite the supply-side issues, consumer demand continues to boom with Australia Post reporting a yearly profit of more than $100 million off the back of record revenue, driven by $6.48 billion from parcels and the growth of e-commerce caused by lockdowns and COVID-19.Į-commerce is up 30 per cent with wine deliveries up almost 19 per cent and more than 34 per cent in Victoria. Postal worker Mohammed Tehseen delivering letters while wearing protective gear.

Major distribution centres have been shut down, including the key Sydney International Gateway last week, and the Thomastown distribution centre in Melbourne, which it was forced to close on Tuesday following another closure in Melton. Australia Post’s acting chief executive warns lockdowns are putting significant pressure on supply chains and the transport of essential goods, as the rules for interstate freight drivers also cause chaos across state borders.Īcting CEO Rodney Boys said lockdowns were putting significant strain on their delivery services with the passenger flights used to transport parcels suspended or reduced, up to 500 staff in isolation and up to 100 post offices closed by COVID-19.