The National Party has expressed its “total dissatisfaction” with Australia Post’s delivery and service standards, just days before the Government-owned business starts mailing out same-sex marriage survey forms.

Steph Ryan, the Deputy Leader of the Victorian Nationals, moved the motion at the national conference in Canberra, saying complaints against Australia Post had tripled since 2008.

The motion urged the “Federal Government to ensure an effective postal service model, and records our total dissatisfaction with the current level of service provided by Australia Post”.

The Nationals are upset with Australia Post’s service record in regional communities, with Ms Ryan noting the Commonwealth Ombudsman has found it has the second-highest complaint rate of any entity.

The criticism comes as Australia Post prepares to send out survey forms to millions of Australians from Tuesday, which are due back for assessment on November 7.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is tasked with overseeing the survey, has already described possible delivery failures by Australia Post as a threat to the legitimacy of the process.

Ahmed Fahour: Australia Post’s $10.8 million man.

Despite this, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said he was confident Australia Post is up to the job and can ensure the survey forms are handled appropriately.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull criticised the Government-owned business earlier this year when its former chief executive Ahmed Fahour’s multi-million-dollar salary was revealed.

Mr Fahour was paid a total of $10.8 million after resigning in February amid political and community uproar about his fat pay deal.

“You won’t see its like again at Australia Post,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We have now made changes to ensure that the Remuneration Tribunal sets the salary of the CEO of Australia Post.”

Australia Post has been contacted for comment.

-ABC