Going postal: Missing Manjimup mail under investigation

An investigation has been launched into a mysterious case of missing mail in Manjimup, with Australia Post saying it was not to blame.

Warren-Blackwood MLA Terry Redman said he was pleased the Commonwealth Postal Industry Ombudsman had told Australia Post to hold an inquiry and urged affected residents to come forward.

Manjimup Monograms owners Sue and Dave Birnie said they had locked their letterbox for the past 12 months and still had mail go missing.

“For the 23 years we’ve been in business, our individual ATO mail has come at the same time,” Mr Birnie said. “This last time, Sue got her ATO in the mail and I didn’t.”

Mrs Birnie said her lost mail had included a Medicare card, a Mastercard, Australia Post accounts and the couple’s boat registrations.

“I just don’t understand where the mail has gone,” she said. “It’s not being returned to sender and we’re not getting it, so there has to be bags of mail just sitting somewhere.

“We’ve lived in Manjimup for 33 years, why has this only started in the last 12 months?”

Both Mr and Mrs Birnie urged affected residents to call Australia Post and quote the reference number.

“Get on that phone, we’re not getting mail in Manjimup and that needs to fixed,” Mr Birnie said.

Manjimup resident Mel Cooper, who said she had also lost mail, received a letter from Australia Post.

The letter acknowledged residents’ concerns while saying Australia Post had completed testing and auditing of their internal system.

“We continue to work with local police into complaints of mail theft in Manjimup,” the letter said.

“During this time, we recommend all residents place a lock on their letterbox and report any incidents of suspected theft to the police. The mail is not going missing as a result of the Manjimup Australia Post team.”

Customers can contact Australia Post on 13 13 18 and quote reference number 24305331.

Mr Redman said people who had received fines for non-payment of accounts could request a letter from Australia Post explaining that mail may not have been delivered.