AUSTRALIA Post has reassured food producers who use its services, they won't be affected by the temporary pause on parcel post collections from eCommerce retailers.
The three-day pause comes just after Australia Post gave a commitment to continue carrying perishable foods.
"There is no current pause on delivery, or any change to perishables," an Australia Post spokesman said.
Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in NSW, ACT and VIC Australia Post has announced it is temporarily pausing Parcel Post collections from retailers in those jurisdictions.
The pause will take place from Saturday, September 4, to 7am on Tuesday, September 7.
Australia Post said it needed to manage record volumes in parts of the network and return them to a safe and manageable level.
But small producers, who rely on Australia Post, said while they were happy they'll still be able to use the service, the corporation needed to lift its game.
LardAss Cultured Butter, Ocean Grove, owner Monica Cavarsan said giving certainty to businesses came at just the right time.
"Online has just gone crazy," Ms Cavarsan said.
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"To find an alternative would have been really difficult."
She said the onus was on producers to make sure what they sent was labelled as perishable.
"That's so the delivery drivers won't put it on the dashboard," she said.
It was very difficult to find perishable stickers, and the business had to make its own or source them from overseas.
"It would be nice if they sold those stickers, marked fragile, perishable or urgent, keep out of direct sunlight," she said.
"But those sort of accessories are just not available at the post office."
Delivery drivers also needed to make sure the products were put in a safe place, and out of the direct sun.
"They are not all just jumpers and shoes going through, there is also food," she said.
"It's alright to say they are going to carry perishable food, but they have to carry it properly."
North Tasmanian salmon farm co-owner Ben Pyka, Deloraine, Tas said he'd received an apology from Australia Post's Business and Government executive general manager Gary Starr, over the decision to stop carrying perishable goods.
"We were part of the industry group that spoke to Australia Post about the potential disruption and he said 'we apologise for any uncertainty felt by people'," Mr Pyka said.
The intended ban made no sense.
"Look at the coronavirus pandemic, everyone in the political circles was yelling 'stay home, stay home, shop online," he said.
"Get everything delivered to your door."
Mr Pyka said small businesses relied on Australia Post, because it had the biggest reach, as well as the best price point and delivery times of any delivery network.
But he said the organisation still had significant shortcomings.
"We knew they were crap, so therefore we took on board their shortcomings, and made sure our goods still arrive in good condition.
"Express Post, according to the packet, is guaranteed overnight - however, they have changed that, it's guaranteed within eight days.
"How is that in any way, shape or form, express?
"That's not express, it's normal mail, but you get to pay more for it - I suppose it's just a luxury tax."
COVID-related congestion in Sydney had further exacerbated delivery delays.
Mr Pyka said it appeared Australia Post cost-cutting was having an impact.
"For any small or medium sized business to try and get any viable customer service is difficult."
He said he would stick with Australia Post because large freight companies preferred pallet loads, over single consignments.
"They charge for a single consignment as much as for a pallet, because they don't want to do it," he said.
He said Tasmanian suppliers had raised the issue of switching to other carriers.
"We did mention for Australia Post to maintain its viability in Tasmania, they do need to pick up their game.
"There are other options coming, around the corner, which are price point comparable to Australia Post."
Milawa Cheese Company chief executive Ceridwen Brown said the company was "ecstatic" that Australia Post would continue to deliver cheese around the country.
"We have had a pretty challenging time of it with multiple lock downs in Victoria over the last 12 months, which has severely impacted our tourism site, our retail shop," Ms Brown said.
"Whilst being a food outlet and being able to open our doors, we rely very heavily on travellers visiting our store for our income.
"By pivoting to an online store and cheese club we have been able to keep our retail staff employed and get our beautiful cheese into the hands of our locked down customers"
She said Australia Post handled the majority of Milawa Cheese's online shopping parcels, and it was with great trepidation she awaited the outcome of their consultation process.
"This is a great result for small businesses that struggling to find a way to stay afloat through incredibly difficult times."
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
