Council calls for rethink on planned Amberley Post Office closure

Ipswich City Council is calling on Australia Post to reverse a decision to close Amberley Post Office.

Australia Post has previously announced the post office, located on RAAF Base Amberley and serving the Australian Defence Force community, will be closed on 28 August 2026.

Councillors unanimously supported a Notice of Motion at the 30 June Ordinary Meeting by

Division 4 Cr Jim Madden requesting Mayor Teresa Harding write to Minister for Finance Senator Katy Gallagher and Minister for Communications Anika Wells in their capacity as shareholder ministers for the Australia Post Board, and request that the decision to close the Amberley Post Office be reversed.

Cr Madden said base personnel had contacted him concerned about the closure.

“Customers have raised concerns about not being able to easily get off base to go to an alternative post office if it was closed,” Cr Madden said.

“RAAF Amberley is the largest operational air base in Australia, providing employment for about 5,000 Ipswich residents.

“Without a functioning post office on the base, defence personnel would have to wait until their shift finished, at which point the nearest post office might not be open.

“It has been made clear to councillors that many regard this post office as a vital service which should not be cut.

“It is a very important facility as it operates not only as a post office but also as a bank for Defence personnel working at RAAF Amberley.

“With Ipswich’s population growing by almost 10,000 people per year, we feel the entire region deserves more post offices - not less.”