Member for Mallee - Transcript - Interview ABC Radio Regional South Australia with Narelle Graham - 23 June 2026

DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TRANSCRIPT

TOPICS: Pets on Virgin Airlines flights, future of Local Post Offices, Australia Post plans, regional banking, Communications Minister’s responsibility, Labor government transparency, Senate inquiry motion, APVMA decision on paraquat and diquat, Parkinson’s Disease

Graham  

First, this hour there are some concerns coming out of Canberra, and this is about the future of local post offices in regional South Australia, so the coalition is pushing for a Senate inquiry after claims of a leaked Australia Post plan that could reshape and potentially reduce the network of licensed post offices across rural and regional communities. Dr. Anne Webster is the Member for Mallee and also the Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Good afternoon.

Webster  

Good afternoon, Narelle. Can I first say - no from me.

Graham  

Okay. All right. No to pets on a plane. Any particular reason?

Webster  

Look, I agree with your first text. You know - it's enough having ... however many people are on the plane, so no, it's just a no from me. I know what my dog would be like.

Graham  

Fair enough, fair enough. Well, thank you. I appreciate your vote. Where is this speculation coming from about the future of our licensed post offices in rural and regional areas?

Webster  

It is really quite concerning that the Australia Post board have ... I don't know how they've managed to have this document come into the hands of our Senator Sarah Henderson, who is the Shadow Minister for Communications, but she has a document which shows that the board have actually said yes, that they will be moving towards a reshaping or licensed post office post office reimagined program, which is deeply concerning. Obviously, in our regional towns, often it is a local post office where people can go to bank, they go to pay bills. It's a trusted environment, particularly when banks have been ripped out of some of our towns. So it's really quite concerning that Australia Post are looking to reduce the footprint - potentially - in regional and rural Australia. I think the other point is that the Senator was asking the CEO of Australia Post, Paul Graham, particular questions at Senate estimates as to whether there was any plan to reduce the footprint, and he was, I don't know... you could say he was obfuscating, that he was not owning that there was any plan in place.

Graham  

Okay, Dr. Anne Webster is the Shadow Minister for Communications, and you're right, the bank, whereas the banks left, they said, well, most of the services will be available at your post office, where are those services likely to move if the post office goes?

Webster  

Well, that's a really good question. Where will they go ... to the local pharmacy? It's just ... I am speechless that they could even think that this is a reasonable suggestion, people who live out in the regions, look, we don't want sympathy, we just want a fair deal, and we want to know that we have banking services, that we have postal services, that we can pay bills, particularly we have older populations generally who are not necessarily technologically adapted, shall we say, and they want to be able to pay their bills face to face with people that they trust, and the post office has been providing that service, so it is deeply concerning, and I think Anika Wells, who is the Minister for Communications, has basically handballed it and said, "Oh, not my problem, this is Australia Post's decision, they're an independent agency.” No, Anika, you are the actual stakeholder minister for this service, so she has responsibility, and she needs to step up and provide confidence to those of us who live in the regions that these services will continue.

Graham  

Is there a timeline for when this might be rolled out by Australia Post?

Webster  

No, we've got no details at all. Look, honestly, I was in the chamber this afternoon, I'm in Canberra at the moment, and smoke and mirrors is, you know, that little phrase that even Labor likes to use, but I tell you what, it really is smoke and mirrors when you try and get information from the government about what they're planning on doing or not doing, and particularly around things like this.

Graham  

If it's licenced post offices, how would that work if Australia Post was to withdraw? And I ask because Woody's on my text line, saying we were thinking of purchasing a post office in my local town, but not now.

Webster  

Well, please ask the question, Woody. You need to be able to get a straight answer from Australia Post, and to have confidence. I mean, this is the whole thing. We want small business to continue in our small towns. They are vital. They are the lifeblood. So, yep, make sure you get a yes.  

Graham  

Is there anything else that's in the plan that you can tell us about at this stage, Dr. Anne Webster?

Webster  

Only that the Senator is planning to have an inquiry that in Committee for Environment and Communications References, so that committee inquiry she's hoping to have agreed to, and then we'll come forward with the dates of when that might be, but it would be an opportunity to bring Paul Graham back into the Senate, and for the Senator and other senators to be able to ask the questions.

Graham  

Is there a formula in the document that the Coalition has that describes what types of towns would be most vulnerable to losing their post office?

Webster  

No, the detail is just not there.

Graham  

Okay, and at this point you haven't had any details from Minister Anika Wells?

Webster  

No.

Graham  

In the end, is this though just about Australia Post modernising and dealing with financial pressures to stay viable and profitable?

Webster  

Well, I think they've introduced their parcel boxes, they've got a special name, I don't know what it is, parcel lockers, I'll get the right name, they've got parcel lockers, I know they've introduced them in Mildura, in my home town, that can be helpful and useful, and obviously removes jobs, but they need to make sure that smaller towns still have access to postal services for the very reasons we've already discussed.

Graham  

Putting on another hat, Dr. Anne Webster, you're also the Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Health, and today there's been news that farmers will be able to continue to access at Paraquat and Diquat, subject to stricter controls, that's after a decision from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. You've welcomed that decision. Why is that?

Webster  

Look, I think we have to acknowledge how much good paraquat and diquat provide to farmers, so we've had decades of no tillage farming, where we had paddocks, you know, disappear from one side of the road to the other side of the road. To be able to use products like paraquat and diquat means that no-till farming can continue, which is more productive. Farmers love it. They acknowledge, themselves, in all the discussions that I've had with farmers that, you know, while their grandfather or their father even may have drenched themselves as well as the field with the chemicals that they've used, it's not like that anymore. They are very careful to use sealed containers and to be properly gloved and dressed, and all those things, I think we have to acknowledge that, while the concern is there, and I understand the concern, and the deep concern of those who might have farming families where Parkinson's Disease occurs. We have to, dare I say it, trust the science. I really don't want to use that term, but we really do have to understand that the APVMA have done all their research, they have come back, they consider that these chemicals are safe and they need to be used in a careful and considered way, which farmers, I mean, let's face it, they want to look after their own health, so they're already doing these things now. All the farmers that I'm talking to are already taking those sensible precautions to ensure that they are not going to be impacted in their own health.

Graham  

So, when you've got the head of Parkinson's Australia saying they're going to continue to campaign for paraquat to be banned in Australia, and they're deeply disappointed and frustrated by this decision. What do you say to them?

Webster  

Look, I say, do what you need to do. Fortunately, we still live in a democracy, and we have peak bodies, and there are a lot that you know are walking the halls of this parliament who have messages, have concerns, have their own research, perhaps that they want to bring and talk with ministers about that is perfectly reasonable. They need to be able to do that. I would certainly not tell them not to worry, they need to do what they need to do, but I think we have confidence that the APVMA, who have deliberated for a long time about this decision, they have made their decision now, and farmers can get on and do the work that they need to do.  

Graham  

Dr. Anne Webster, thank you. The regional shadow minister for communications, and also the shadow minister for regional and rural health, and the member for Mallee in Victoria, and ABC Radio South Australia and Broken Hill.

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