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POAAL supports Australia Post's effort to retain the passport contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia Post has an unmatched network of post offices delivering passport services to all parts of the country – including rural areas.Licensed Post Offices would miss out on income if Australia Post loses the contract. Passport interviews are an important business stream for LPOs. It’s not just about the fee for performing the interview – it’s about all the ancillary business that comes along with it. LPOs are one-stop-shops for Australians heading overseas. Customers can buy travel insurance, order foreign currency, set up travel debit cards, buy travel SIM cards, and much more.Currently, 900 LPOs offer passport services on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. POAAL would like to see this extended to all LPOs, giving customers greater access to passport services to all Australians, regardless of where they’re located. Customers shouldn’t be discriminated against based on where they live.As the number of Australian passport transactions is expected to increase, the network of post offices offering passport services should also increase.Many LPOs are open over the weekend and have extended operating hours, allowing customers to apply for passports outside of normal working hours.While the post office network may have been founded on letter delivery, its future lies in having diversified income sources with potential for growth that meets the needs of its customers now and in the future. Retention of the passport contract will help secure an income stream for Australia Post and LPOs.
