In Australia although Post Offices are privatised franchises, their function as government agents remains. They are certified to take passport photos, which com

In Australia although Post Offices are privatised franchises, their function as government agents remains. They are certified to take passport photos, which comply with our governments requirements (and I suspect some others but the legal reach here would obviously be modulated) and if you have your old passport no counter-signature is required. If you e.g. had your photo taken in a government office like for a drivers licence, the question "is this really you" doesn't arise. In relation to all the other information "Is this really your name, DOB, birth certificate" they remain, but not the "is this image the person who applied here and now and signed the form"