Australia Post has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s decision to amend licensing requirements to allow car licence holders to operate electric delivery vehicles (eDVs) while delivering for Australia Post.
The landmark change eliminates the need for Australia Post’s Tasmanian team members to hold a motorcycle licence to operate an eDV – a move the Government says will make the delivery positions accessible to a more diverse pool of candidates throughout the state.
Australia Post Managing Director and CEO, Paul Graham, said the decision will improve Australia Post services for Tasmania, and has called on other State governments to review their licensing requirements.
“Our eDVs can carry up to 100 small parcels and 1,200 letters at a time, which is significantly more than a traditional motorcycle,” he said.
“We’re responding to higher demand for parcel deliveries, with 83% of Tasmanians making an online purchase in the past year, so this means we can deliver to customers’ doors sooner.
“The Government’s amendment is a milestone for our business in Tasmania and an important step in helping us to make positions accessible to a more diverse pool of candidates. For every Tasmanian candidate who has a motorcycle licence, there are eight who have car licences, so we should be able to fill positions faster from a larger talent pool,” Mr Graham said.
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson said the Government had listened to advice that, as eDVs can only be ridden at low speeds and have appropriate operating and handling characteristics as a three-wheeled vehicle, they can be ridden by Australia Post employees on a car licence.
“Investment in eDVs is an integral part of Australia Post’s target to reduce carbon emissions by 15% by 2025 (against an FY19 baseline), ahead of targeting net zero emissions by 2050,” he said.
Electric delivery vehicles and electric motorbikes already represent more than half of all postal rounds in Tasmania.
