Advertisement

Australia Post operator's incredible vaccine backflip after near-closure

Australia Post says a regional Victoria postmaster will comply with a vaccine mandate after suggesting her refusal to do so would lead to the shutting down of her store

Angela Spedding, who runs the Merrigum Post Office and Newsagency posted to Facebook on Tuesday, informing locals she would have to close her store if she hadn't booked in a Covid jab by the end of the week.

Ms Spedding — who has run the post office for over six years — says it's "her choice" not to vaccinate, telling customers the mail delivery service on the tiny town will be impacted.

Australia Post said the Merrigum post office will remain open. Source: Facebook
Australia Post said the Merrigum post office will remain open. Source: Facebook

“As for your street mail, they will have another contractor but where it will go I have no idea,” she wrote in the Facebook post.

“I apologise for the inconvenience this will cause for you all but it’s my freedom of choice.”

Ms Spedding was “adamant” against receiving the vaccine, expressing her concern in a Facebook comment about the side effects of the vaccination, saying she doesn't think workers should have to get it.

“I don’t watch TV much but I read on Facebook, I don’t think it [the vaccine] should ever be mandated,” she reportedly wrote in a Facebook comment.

“But Australia Post told me I either had to get a vaccine or make an appointment. They’ll be here to clean out all the mail, parcels, everything.”

Angela Spedding from the Merrigum post office admitted she was vaccine-hesitant.  Source: Facebook
Angela Spedding from the Merrigum post office admitted she was vaccine-hesitant. Source: Facebook

Merrigum, which is located 30km from Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley, is home to less than 700 people.

If the post office were to close, all mail would have been redirected to Girgarre, more than 20km from Merrigum.

According to a local article from 2015, the town was in danger of losing its only post office before Ms Spedding took over.

Jabs mandatory from Friday

In Victoria, Covid vaccinations will be compulsory for authorised workers from Friday, October 15, which includes newsagents and post office workers.

A spokesperson from Australia Post confirmed the Merrigum outlet would continue to operate as normal as the licensee had since agreed to comply with the health orders.

"As it has throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia Post is complying with all government requirements and health directions," a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.

"The licensee of Merrigum Post Office has informed Australia Post they will be complying with the latest Health Order requirements and we are pleased to say the outlet will continue to operate as normal."

Yahoo News has contacted Angela Spedding for comment.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.