Postal workers across Australia are facing a growing threat on their daily rounds, with dog attacks occurring at a deeply concerning rate. New data from Australia Post has revealed a sharp increase in aggressive incidents involving pets, prompting urgent calls for owners to properly secure their animals, especially with the busy Christmas delivery period approaching.
Alarming Statistics Reveal National Problem
The figures are staggering: more than 1190 dog-related incidents have involved posties across the country over the past six months. This translates to an average of nine posties encountering trouble with a pet every single day, creating a significant workplace safety crisis for the national postal service.
Breaking down the locations of these confrontations, the data shows that one in three incidents occurs on a customer's own property. Meanwhile, a larger majority—62 per cent of dog-related incidents—happen out on the street, where posties are most vulnerable during their delivery routes.
State-by-State Breakdown and Hotspot Suburbs
Australia Post's analysis has identified a shift in the national landscape of dog attacks. New South Wales has now overtaken Queensland as the state with the worst record for dog attacks on postal workers. Within NSW, the suburbs of Penrith, Warabrook, Villawood, and Moree have recorded the highest number of incidents.
Following NSW, Queensland came in second place on the concerning list. The ranking continues with Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory completing the state-by-state analysis.
Safety Measures and Delivery Consequences
In response to this ongoing issue, Australia Post has implemented safety protocols for its workers. Posties are equipped with citronella spray as a defence safety measure, which the organisation reports has been effective in stopping attacks in 90 per cent of incidents where it has been used.
The consequences for dog owners, however, are immediate and significant. If a postie is attacked or threatened by a dog, Australia Post will stop delivering mail to that address entirely. All such incidents are formally reported to local councils, which may lead to further regulatory action against the pet owner.
Russell Munro, Australia Post General Manager, expressed serious concern about the trend, noting that dog-related incidents have increased over the past six months despite the citronella spray rollout. "Our posties want to be able to deliver for our customers without fear of being attacked or chased by a dog," Munro stated.
He issued a clear message to all dog owners: "Regardless of breed or temperament, we urge all owners to keep their dogs safely contained when expecting deliveries." For customers awaiting important mail, Munro suggested using the Australia Post app to track delivery times more accurately.
As the Christmas period approaches, bringing with it a surge in parcel deliveries, Australia Post has recommended that dog owners who cannot reliably secure their pets should consider using the parcel locker service as a safer alternative to home delivery.
