City of Rockingham says it is working with Australia Post after topping the list for attacks on delivery staff

The City of Rockingham says it is working with Australia Post after it was revealed the area is the worst in the State for attacks on postal workers.

Last week Australia Post unveiled alarming statistics revealing the rise of aggressive and unrestrained dogs targeting delivery drivers.

In the past six months, Australian posties have been subjected to more than 12,000 dog-related incidents, which is about nine incidents each day.

WA ranked the fourth worst State in Australia for aggressive and unrestrained dogs.

A shocking 193 incidents affected WA posties since November, about 1.1 incidents per day.

Rockingham topped the list in WA for aggressive or unrestrained dogs affecting postal workers.

Mayor Lorna Buchan said the city’s rapidly growing and dense population were why it topped the list.

There are about 25,000 dogs living within the district, “which creates high frequency interactions between dogs, people, and other animals”, Ms Buchan said.

The city was working with Australia Post — whose staff accounted for less than 5 per cent of dog attack victims within the city — by streamlining the reporting processes and encouraging postal workers to report incidents.

Members of the public are also encouraged to report incidents more broadly, supporting early intervention and compliance.

Last year there were 135 enforcement actions taken by the city via a modified penalty which ranges from $200 to $400.

There were also 42 enforcement actions by way of court prosecution. These were for dog attacks where a significant injury resulted.

Penalties range from a maximum of $3000 for a dog attack with no injury, or a $10,000 maximum and $500 minimum if the dog was previously declared a dangerous dog.

For a dog attack causing injury, the maximum penalty is $10,000, or a $20,000 maximum with a $1000 minimum if the dog was previously declared a dangerous dog.

Ms Buchan said rangers also actively provided education to dog owners as part of their daily work.

This included offering real-time advice during patrols, responding to complaints with a mix of guidance and enforcement, and promoting responsible control in shared and off-leash spaces.

“They conduct targeted patrols at beaches, dog parks, and off-lead areas to engage directly with owners and prevent incidents, while the city’s animal management facility operations officer (a qualified dog trainer) offers guidance to impounded dog owners to address behaviour and prevent repeat issues,” Ms Buchan added.

“The city also supports education through its website, community engagement, events, and partnerships with animal welfare organisations, encouraging secure containment, effective fencing, and consistent training such as recall and ‘stay’ commands to reduce risk.”

Ms Buchan said dog owners could help reduce incidents by ensuring their dogs are securely contained at home, with physical fencing remaining the safest and most reliable option.

“Regular checks of property boundaries to confirm fences are well maintained, secure and appropriate for the size and ability of the dog are essential for keeping both the community and the animal safe,” she said.

“In addition, consistent voice command training, including reliable recall and ‘stay’ commands, helps ensure dogs remain under control and do not rush or approach people in private or public spaces.”

Other spots in WA notorious for dog incidents include Wangara, Bunbury, and Joondalup.

The statistics show almost two-thirds of incidents occur on the street after dogs have escaped, with more than a third of those cases involving the postie being chased down the street.

More than a third of all incidents take place on a customer’s property as a postal worker either approaches or leaves the front door.

The incidents are not minor, with the national postal organisation revealing staff have suffered bites, lacerations and in some cases even required hospital treatment.

NSW has been labelled as the worst State for dog incidents with more than a third of all reports.

Australia Post general safety manager Russell Munro said dog-related incidents were a serious and persistent safety risk for their delivery drivers.

“Posties encounter multiple dogs every day while delivering, and some can pose a real safety risk,” he said.

“What seems like a routine delivery can quickly escalate, and our posties can’t predict how a dog may react, regardless of breed or temperament.

“Our posties are working hard to deliver parcels safely and on time, and it’s worrying to see the number of incidents increasing.”

Mr Munro urged Australian pet owners to take action with their dogs when expecting a delivery.

“If you’re expecting a delivery, make sure your dog is securely contained and if you’re unable to do so, we encourage customers to consider using a 24-7 free Parcel Locker as a safe alternative,” he said.

“With 9.8 million Aussies shopping online, deliveries and interactions at the front door are more frequent, which creates highly stressful situations for dogs and increases the risk for our team.”

Australia Post reports all dog-related incidents to local councils and may suspend deliveries to certain properties or streets if posties determine it is unsafe to deliver there.

Dog owners have been encouraged to follow the PAWS for delivery initiative:

• Sit: Sit your dog safely in a contained place or behind a locked gate when expecting a delivery
• Stay: Make sure the area you have chosen is somewhere your dog can stay while the parcel is being delivered
• Secure: Keep your dog secure behind your door to allow the postie safe access.