9 September 2026

 

THE feeble and pathetic excuse given by council, to phase out Australia Post BillPay, was a budget-saving measure. But this attitude poses the question: "Who is council employed by, if not the ratepayers?" It's not for the overpaid boffins climbing their way up the public service ladder, nor for the majority block of elected councillors, who seem to believe that ratepayers are beholden to them.

 

At Monday night's council meeting (31 August 2026), Council formly said know to accepting Post BillPay for the payment of rates, leaving a community bewildered. Many community members have not embraced modern technology and rely on their local post office to pay their bills. This seemed to be of little concern to those haughty elected councillors who are in the majority controlling block - the plight of some in being to conveniently pay their rates wasn't their problem.

 

According to Mayor Lawrie McKinna, scrapping the Australia Post BillPay service saves the council the paltry sum of approximately $350,000 each year. The council claims these funds will be redirected toward other essential community priorities and services, which looking at Council's track record is highly debatable.

 

Community advocate Joy Cooper spoke at the council meeting, defending the rights of those ratepayers most affected - pensioners, families and the elderly.

 

Joy Cooper said: "Tonight I’m addressing the issue of equity, accessibility, and basic community respect: how our residents are permitted to pay their council rates.

 

"Following my own research, I wrote directly to local councils right across New South Wales to ask a simple question: Can your residents pay their rates over the counter at Australia Post?

 

"The results speak for themselves. The overwhelming majority of councils across NSW provide Post Billpay options for their ratepayers.

 

"Out of 128 councils in this state, dozens upon dozens from regional shires to major metropolitan councils like Randwick, Blacktown, Penrith, and Tweed make sure their residents can walk into a local post office and pay their bills.

 

"Since council’s  amalgamation, options for local residents have continuously shrunk. It wasn't just administrative borders that changed; service options for everyday people have been systematically reduced.

 

"Council’s own reports acknowledge that many ratepayers pay their rates far more frequently than the standard quarterly notices are issued. For families and pensioners living on tight, fixed budgets, walking into a post office every week or fortnight to pay an amount off their bill is how they survive financially. It is a vital budgeting tool."

 

Ms Cooper highlighted that the digital divide right here on the Central Coast should not be ignored. "A significant portion of our residents particularly our older or  lower income earners, do not have reliable or often any  internet access, computers, or mobile banking. Forcing transactions exclusively online or through automated systems locks these residents out," she said.

 

"It has been highlighted  to me that individual councils are the ones who negotiate these commercial service agreements with Australia Post. So I ask two direct questions:

 

"Was our service agreement with Australia Post formally renegotiated at the time of council amalgamation, so as to preserve this service for residents?

 

"Has Council ever considered partnering with neighbouring councils to negotiate a better joint agreements, utilising our collective buying power to secure better rates for Post Billpay?"

 

Ms Cooper highlighted the vast network of NSW councils that successfully offer Post Billpay right now. They are:

 

• Albury City Council, Armidale Regional Council, Ballina Shire Council, Bega Valley Shire Council, Bellingen Shire Council, Berrigan Shire Council, Blacktown City Council, Bland Shire Council, Blayney Shire Council, Broken Hill City Council, Burwood Council, Byron Shire Council, Cabonne Council, Camden Council, Campbelltown City Council, City of Canada Bay Council, City of Canterbury-Bankstown,

 

• Cessnock City Council, City of Coffs Harbour, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Cowra Shire Council, Dubbo Regional Council, Dungog Shire Council, Edward River Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Fairfield City Council, Federation Council, Forbes Shire Council, Georges River Council, Gilgandra Shire Council, Glen Innes Severn Council,

 

• Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Greater Hume Shire Council, Griffith City Council, Gunnedah Shire Council, Gwydir Shire Council, Hay Shire Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Hornsby Shire Council, Inner West Council, Inverell Shire Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Kiama Municipal Council, Kyogle Council, Leeton Shire Council, Lismore City Council, Lithgow City Council, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Plains Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council,

 

• Maitland City Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Moree Plains Shire Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Nambucca Valley Council, Narrabri Shire Council, Narromine Shire Council, City of Newcastle, North Sydney Council, Orange City Council, Parkes Shire Council, Penrith City Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Port Stephens Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Randwick City Council, Richmond Valley Council, Shellharbour City Council,

 

• Shoalhaven City Council, Singleton Council, Strathfield Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Tamworth Regional Council, Tenterfield Shire Council, The Hills Shire Council, Tweed Shire Council, Upper Hunter Shire Council, Uralla Shire Council, Wagga Wagga City Council,

 

• Walcha Council, Walgett Shire Council, Warrumbungle Shire Council, Weddin Shire Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Wollondilly Shire Council, Wollongong City Council, and Yass Valley Council.

 

When 91 councils across New South Wales manage to support their ratepayers at the post office, Central Coast Council's refusal to match peer standards shows a clear lack of respect for residents and clearly suggests that their needs to be an investigation into current council practices, both by staff and councillors.

 

Local Labor MPs and residents have criticised the decision, launching petitions and writing to the council over concerns that removing post office payments creates friction and inconvenience for vulnerable and elderly residents who rely on local in-person services.

 

Council's decision forces elderly residents and pensioners to travel long distances to a council contact centre or library if they want to pay in person.

 

The decision creates "disproportionate friction" and ignores financial inclusion for vulnerable communities just to save a minor line item in the budget.

 

Central Coast Labor MPs have now collectively gathered over 3,000 petitions asking Central Coast Council to continue to allow payment of Council invoices at local Australia Post Offices.

 

Under Central Coast Council’s 2026-27 Operational Plan, the ability to pay Council invoices at local post offices will end in September 2026.

 

Prior to Council’s Ordinary meeting on 25 August, members of the public were able to address Council’s Public Forum on agenda items.

 

Under agenda items 7.3 – Australia Post Payment Option and 8.1 – Notice of Motion – Australia Post Local Post Offices Community Voices Support Small Business, local community members Janice Sutton and Joy Cooper spoke strongly in favour of retaining the service.

 

Unfortunately, due to the amount of Business on Council’s Agenda, approximately 13 items were not debated, and this included items 7.3 and 8.1.  These items will now be considered when Council reconvenes on Monday 31 August 2026.

 

The petition can still be signed via this link, which will greatly assist Labor Councillor Margot Castles when she speaks on the agenda items foreshadowed.