Australia Post welcomes increased penalties for dog attacks passed by SA Government

Under the strengthened reforms, South Australian dog owners could face fines of up to $50,000 if their dog attacks a person after being subjected to a dangerous dog order. Fines up to $25,000 will be issued for first offences. This follows Australia Post’s recent announcement that more than 44 Posties a week are falling victim to a threatening dog – an average of nine per day2.   

Despite continued appeals to the public, recent Australia Post data revealed over 1,150 dog-related incidents were reported nationwide in the past six months. The growing frequency of parcel deliveries has led to almost 40% of dog incidents taking place on a customer’s property – half of those when a front door is opened for a parcel delivery. Dog incidents occurring on the street account for 57% of all cases.

During this period, South Australia accounted for 60 dog-related incidents involving Posties, with the suburbs of Glynde, Lonsdale, Edinburgh North and Salisbury South identified as hotspots.

Australia Post General Manager Safety, Russell Munro, said the new legislation underscores the serious safety risks dogs can pose to team members and the public.  

“We welcome these stronger penalties, which send a clear message that dog attacks are serious and unacceptable.

“Our Posties deserve to feel safe while delivering for the community, and this legislation is a critical step in holding owners accountable and protecting frontline workers,” Mr Munro said.

To help reduce the risk to team members, Australia Post is rolling out citronella spray to all Posties by the end of July. The water-based, non-harmful spray will serve as a last-resort safety tool in the event of an imminent dog attack.

In partnership with the South Australian Government, Australia Post also undertook a public awareness campaign in September 2024 delivering more than 310,000 personally addressed letters to dog owners across the state. The campaign provided information on responsible pet ownership and practical steps to prevent dog attacks on Posties and the broader community.

Australia Post continues to work with relevant state, territory and local governments to advocate for stronger animal management laws. More information on how to prevent dog-related incidents can be found here: https://auspost.com.au/dog-safety. 

Source: Australia Post