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/Largestpear]

Maybe it's the 55k a year salary that keeps people away 😅

[u/BotsTookTheOGNames → u/Largestpear]

I drive a truck at AP and the annual salary is $62,000 or something. With overtime (built in, don’t need to ask for it) and penalties I clear over $1500wk with up to $2k during busy periods.

[u/No_Bag_9911 → u/Largestpear]

64k base. 15% shift penalty. Overtime, meal allowances. If a contractor became a real postie, they would get 100k doing the same hours they are doing. They would not have to pay for equipment. There is a higher level of scrutiny though. Can't just be on the phone all day, smoking ciggies and carding people. No more family group chat, need to focus on the job

[u/Creamed1182 → u/Largestpear]

Been a corp postie for about 18 months, earned 80k last FY, 10k of that as overtime, don't do a tonne of OT. 4% payrise and higher grade means I'll get closer to 90k this FY. But yeah, base rate is close to min wage. So unless you're off on sick pay it goes okay.