You're tired, you're behind schedule, and the front door is 8 metres from the van. The parcel is light — maybe a satchel or a small box. The temptation to underarm it onto the porch from the footpath is real. You've seen other drivers do it. It saves walking up and back. But here's what you need to understand: in 2026, you are being recorded at almost every front door in suburban Australia. Ring doorbells, Arlo, Eufy, Google Nest, Reolink — the camera penetration on Australian homes is enormous, and it's growing every month.
The Camera Reality
Door cameras record motion-activated video 24/7. The moment you walk up a driveway, you're being filmed. Many systems send real-time alerts to the homeowner's phone — they're literally watching you deliver live. Some cameras have two-way audio, so the customer can speak to you through the doorbell even when they're not home.
Videos of delivery drivers throwing parcels are shared on community Facebook groups, Reddit, TikTok, and local neighbourhood apps daily. Some go viral. A single clip of you tossing a parcel can be viewed by hundreds of thousands of people within 24 hours. Your face, your van's branding, your company — all identifiable.
Companies monitor social media for exactly this kind of content. When a video surfaces, they identify the driver fast. The outcome is almost always disciplinary action or termination — regardless of whether the parcel was actually damaged.
The Damage Angle
You don't know what's inside. A satchel that weighs 500g could contain a glass perfume bottle, a ceramic ornament, or electronic components. A light toss might not seem forceful to you, but it can shatter fragile items. Under ACCC consumer guarantees, consumers are entitled to receive goods undamaged — and when the camera shows a driver throwing the parcel, the damage claim is open and shut.
Even if nothing breaks, the perception matters. A customer who sees footage of their parcel being thrown feels disrespected. They complain to the courier company. They post the video online. They switch delivery providers. One lazy moment creates a cascade of consequences.
What to Do Instead
Walk every parcel to the door. Yes, every single one. Place it down gently. Step back. Take the photo. Walk back to the van. The extra 20 seconds per stop adds up to about 10–15 minutes over a full day. That's the price of keeping your job and your reputation.
Assume every house has a camera. Because statistically, a huge percentage do. Deliver every parcel as if you're being watched — because you probably are.
Think about the customer. That parcel might be a birthday present, a replacement for something that already arrived broken, or something the customer has been waiting weeks for. They deserve to have it placed at their door, not thrown at it.