[Greens-Media] Public Meeting Condemns Hidden Bondi Junction Post Office

[Susie Gemmell]

7 March 2005

More than 100 people attended a meeting on Thursday (3 March, 6:00 pm)
night at the Mill Hill Centre in Bondi Junction to protest the moving of
the local Post Office into the Westfield complex. 

Greens NSW MP Lee Rhiannon, one of the co-organisers of the meeting,
told the crowd:

"The loss of a street frontage post office in Bondi Junction is
unfair to older people, to people with disabilities and to the business
community.

"Siting the new Post Office in four separate locations inside the
giant shopping complex is confusing and massively inconvenient. The
Federal Government have allowed Australia Post to prioitise their own
profits ahead of the needs of the Bondi Junction community. 

"The current location also has adverse occupational health and safety
consequences for post office workers.

"We are now demanding a return to a street frontage post office. The
Greens are committed to working with Waverley Council and the community
to make this a reality," Ms Rhiannon said.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Rhiannon commented:

"The turn out was massive. On a stormy night in the middle of the
week, more than 100 people made their way to the Mill Hill Centre to
send a powerful message to the Federal Communication Minster, Senator
Helen Coonan.

"This campaign has a lot of momentum. Inevitably the Federal
Government will feel the heat and back down, and that includes the local
member Malcolm Turnbull. 

"It's one thing for Australia Post to make sound commercial
decisions to increase the revenue available for postal services. But
when this is done at the expense of older people, people with
disabilities, small businesses and the community, then they are on the
wrong track.

"People at this meeting were really passionate about their local
services. We will be building on this passion to develop a massive
campaign," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455


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Susie Gemmell
Policy Adviser
Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile:  0431 458 102
Email   susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web    www.leerhiannon.org.au