LPOs are at the fraying edge of the cash system
Licensed Post Offices are often the last outpost of the cash distribution system. When banks close their branches and ATMs, the post office remains, often as an agency in another retail outlet providing Bank@Post services.
Australia Post LPOs provide these critical cash services in bankless towns without the resources of a bank and sometimes it can all go wrong.
The recent burglary at Miner’s Rest LPO highlights the security and support provided to LPOs for Bank@Post services. Thieves broke in and dragged the Bank@Post safe down the road.
Australia Post Licensee Deidre Nichols told The Courier:
“It does unnerve you because you think, ‘have they been in here? Have they been watching the place?.’
The Miners Rest community raised $3,257 to help the LPO recover from the burglary.
The average Commonwealth Bank branch costs about $1.4 million per year.
The success of the annual Kelpie Muster in Casterton, Victoria was assured this year by the actions of the local LPO when the only ATM in Casterton ran out of cash.
“As thousands of festival-goers descended on the small Victorian town of Casterton for a popular working dog festival, a surge of withdrawals left the only ATM in town completely dry,” The Senior reported.
“If it wasn’t for local florist and post office operator, Melita Vise, the event would have been a flop and townsfolk out of pocket.
“The businesswoman decided to stay open through to 7pm on a Saturday, serving customers needing cash for dinner, and helping support other local businesses.
The Senate Environment and Communications Committee is currently asking for submissions to its Australia Post Retail Network Inquiry.
The terms of reference are:
Management of, and plans for, Australia Post’s retail network, with particular reference to:
- Australia Post’s engagement with licensees, representative bodies, shareholder ministers and other stakeholders about these plans;
- the governance, transparency and decision-making processes underpinning those plans;
- the crucial role that licensed post offices play in delivering services to support local communities, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australia;
- alternative business models to support the sustainability of Australia Post’s retail network;
- the adequacy of Australia Post’s evidence to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee at the 2026–27 Budget estimates’ hearing on 27 May 2026;
- and any other related matters.
You can read Cash Welcome’s submission here.
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