![Fears over Australia Post privatisation Fears over Australia Post privatisation](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2052539.jpg/r0_0_300_200_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
PRIVATISING Australia Post would hit regional Australia hard, according to the postal workers union.
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The warning from the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) follows pro-privatisation comments from Rod Sims, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as reported in the The Australian Financial Review.
Selling publicly owned assets such as Australia Post, energy providers and Medibank Private “will be the most important driver of how Australia improves its productivity,” Mr Sims told The Australian Financial Review.
CEPU Postal and Telecommunications NSW Branch Secretary Jim Metcher said the benefits Australia Post provided to the wider community were far reaching, especially the job opportunities and diversity of services it provided to rural and regional Australians.
“Privatisation would result in thousands of job losses and the closure of hundreds of post offices around the country," Mr Metcher said in a statement.
“This would have a significant negative impact on both the regional workforce and the full range of postal services provided to people who live in country regions.”
In October 2013, Australia Post entered consultation on potential changes to NSW regional mail sorting centres.
Australia Post intended to boost its efficiency by consolidating operations at larger mail sorting centres, which according to the CEPU, could have led to job losses and delays to regional mail services.
However, the changes have been shelved. Australia Post said it "is committed to maintaining a viable and sustainable letters service in all rural and regional areas of NSW."
"There will be no changes to current local delivery services which will remain next day regardless of where they are posted.
"This mail will continue to be processed locally and delivered next day, ensuring that rural and regional areas receive the same mail delivery service as metropolitan areas," an Australia Post spokeswoman said.