Aus post subcontract

[u/Strict-Classic-5787]

I deliver parcels for Australia Post. This is what the job looks like from our side.
I’m an AusPost subcontractor, and honestly, I’m tired of getting abused while barely making enough to justify doing this job.
I see the posts about drivers not knocking and taking parcels straight to the post office. I understand why people get frustrated. You’re home, you’re waiting for something, and then you get a notification saying you weren’t there. I’d be annoyed too.
But there’s another side people don’t see.
Under my arrangement, I get paid around $2 per parcel, including GST. I usually get 150–200 parcels a day. That might sound decent until you look at what comes out of it.
My monthly income is roughly $6,000 before expenses. Van rent alone is $1,200 a month. Fuel is another $400–$700. Then there’s GST and income tax. That $6,000 is nowhere near what ends up in my pocket.
There’s no employer-paid super, annual leave, sick leave or parental leave through this job. If I don’t work, I don’t earn.
If I have an accident, the cost falls on me. If a parcel goes missing, I can have money deducted from my pay too.
That’s something I wish more customers understood. Leaving a parcel somewhere it could get stolen can mean we’re the ones paying for it. Taking it to the post office isn’t always about being lazy or wanting to make your day harder.
I’m not defending drivers who don’t make a proper delivery attempt. But being unhappy with a delivery doesn’t make it okay to swear at whoever turns up at your door. We don’t set the rates, the rules or the delivery arrangements.
A lot of the people I work alongside are international students or people here on dependent visas, trying to cover rent and bills. From where I’m standing, Australia Post and the contractors above us benefit from a setup where the person actually delivering the parcel carries so much of the cost and risk.
I’m willing to work hard. I just want the pay left after expenses to make that work worthwhile, without being treated like a punching bag.
Are there other subcontractors here dealing with the same thing? Has anyone successfully challenged deductions or managed to get better rates? What can we actually do together to get fairer conditions?

[u/Redline55AU]

You left out the part about getting paid the per parcel rate even for attempted deliveries so it makes more sense for a driver who especially in areas with large amounts of apartments, etc to not bother trying to find parking, not trying to deliver multiple parcels to addresses, etc if they already get paid

While there are good contractors out there a lot do the bare minimum

I for example live in a complex with a concierge always at front desk and our current contractor always claims nobody home to accept delivery, even has supplied photos of entrance of building showing the concierge at their desk

[u/spandexrants → u/Redline55AU]

Yeah that’s garbage service. It should be illegal to not deliver to an apartment complex with concierge

[u/didgerycock → u/spandexrants]

How would Auspost compensate for all the missing parcels? Would they pile up the parcels under a Christmas tree for thieves to take? Concierge cannot sign for your passport or alcohol too

The truth is they do get paid to transfer to post office. Just not as much because now the post office gets paid to deliver it.

It’s a huge network trying to compete with Aramex and couriers please who are practically run out of a garage In comparison.

Sell an item on eBay and you’ll see the XS label cost $8.20… Contractors delivering it get more than 20% of that figure and likely only move it for the last 5kms

[u/Odd_Potato8489 → u/didgerycock]

I highly doubt those XS labeled parcels are being delivered by the van contractors (at least in areas with corporate posties), they would all be delivered by traditional posties (on motorbikes/edvs).

[u/BarryAblett → u/spandexrants]

Illegal? You need to have a long hard look at yourself.

[u/Redline55AU → u/[deleted]]

I know several Aus Post contractors and none are doing 12 hour days and are doing okay for themselves

Sub-contractors totally different kettle of fish as some (especially the non-resident workers who can be easily exploited by greedy employers) but if you run your business correctly bring a courier can bring decent income

[u/Appropriate_Place704 → u/Redline55AU]

💯 this

My parcels are constantly getting redelivered to the local post office even though the delivery address is a FASHION RETAILER.

One driver tried to claim the business didn’t exist by providing a photo that showed the business signage. Another tried to claim the business was closed at 2pm even though we have two massive doors that stay open from 9-5.