A 'POSTY1' number plate, $12K Cartier watches for her chums - and one worth $48K for herself: The lavish life of Australia Post's embattled boss - as postie issues a BRILLIANT response to the scandal that threatens her career
- Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate has stepped aside during investigation
- Her office gifted Cartier watches worth $3,000 each to four senior executives
- Ms Holgate said the gifts were recommended by the chair of company's board
- Australia Post's Twitter team cheekily tweeted 'my wrist is light' on Thursday
- Since-deleted tweet comes amid outrage over the newly-surfaced expenses
- Do you know Liam at Australia Post? Email tips@dailymail.com
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate appears before a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday - wearing a gold Bulgari watch that retails for $48,000
It was only a matter of time before bling-loving Australia Post boss Christine Holgate got some unwanted attention.
The CEO, who raked in $2.5million from the state-owned business last year, was ordered by a furious Scott Morrison to stand down on Thursday after admitting she gave $12,000 worth of Cartier watches to her staff as thanks for securing a $66million deal in 2018.
In a bizarre coincidence, the organisation's first female leader wore a stylish watch of her own as she was grilled over the scandal at Senate estimates on Thursday - a gold Bulgari timepiece that retails for $48,000.
Ms Holgate, who raised eyebrows last year when her husband bought her a Range Rover with 'POSTY1' number plates, was questioned by Senators for four excruciating hours.
And it took a fraction of that time for Mr Morrison to order her to stand down pending an investigation.
File image of an Australia Post worker. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday the extravagant gifts were 'disgraceful'
Ms Holgate confirmed four of her highly-paid executives were handed Cartier watches during a cross-examination with Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching.
They were 'awards' for securing a deal with the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and NAB, which paid a combined $66million to Australia Post so its customers could access banking services at its stores across the country.
'They got watches,' Ms Holgate said as she was questioned by Senator Kitching.
'They were a Cartier watch of about a value of $3,000 each.'
Senator Kitching replied: 'Four people got Cartier. Do you remember the brand, the type? Was it a Cartier Tank? What was it?'
'I don't recall. I didn't actually purchase them. They were organised through my office,' Ms Holgate responded.
Mr Morrison said the gifts were 'disgraceful' and 'appalling'.
'She's been instructed to stand aside and if she doesn't do that, she can go,' he told parliament on Thursday.
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate (pictured) has stood aside after luxury watches worth $12,000 were given to executives
As public anger over the revelations mounted online, a member of Australia Post's social media team suggested in a since-deleted comment on the company's Twitter account he was unhappy he hadn't been rewarded for his hard work.
The comment came in response to a tweet saying front line employees had worked just as hard as the company's executives.
'Front line postal workers put in an inordinate amount of work, too. Where are their Cartier watches,' one social media user wrote.
'Don't forget about the behind the scenes and customer support workers,' Australia Post's official account responded - signing off as 'Liam'.
'My wrist is light.'
A member of Australia Post's social media team cheekily suggested in a since-deleted comment on the company's official Twitter account he was unhappy he hadn't been rewarded for his hard work
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australia Post for comment.
Australia Post is a commercial business that does not get taxpayer funding - but its only shareholder is the Australian government which means its finances are scrutinised by politicians.
Mr Morrison said the government has launched a four-week investigation into the lavish gifts.
'We are the shareholders of Australia Post on behalf of the Australian people,' he said.
Ms Holgate - who earns $2.6million a year - gave four $3,000 Cartier watches to well-paid bosses as a reward for clinching a deal to do banking at post offices in 2018 (stock image)
'As any shareholder would in a company raise their outrage if they had seen that conduct, by a chief executive, management or the board, they would insist rightly on the same thing.'
Australia Post chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo said in a statement later on Thursday Ms Holgate would stand aside from her role while her conduct is investigated.
'The Australia Post board and management team will fully co-operate with the recently announced investigation to be conducted by shareholder departments,' he said.
'Group CEO & managing director Christine Holgate will stand aside during the investigation. During this time, Rodney Boys, chief financial officer, will be acting in the role.'
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said boards and managers of government business enterprises needed to take great care with how they spend money.
'I was as shocked and concerned as everybody else to discover this,' he told parliament.
'This is a matter which the Australian government take seriously.'
Union leaders slammed Australia Post's leadership over the watches.
CPSU deputy national president Brooke Muscat said members had taken a pay freeze while working harder during the pandemic.
Ms Holgate said the watches were given as a reward to four executives who worked hard over a deal with Australia's big banks. Pictured: An Australia Post store in Sydney
'How are they rewarded? Not with a watch or a bonus I can tell you that,' she said.
'Whether it's watches in 2018 or big fat bonuses in the middle of a pandemic, the Australia Post board and its management are out of touch.'
Posties' union national secretary Greg Rayner wants the entire board to be stood aside.
'It's outrageous that Australia Post's CEO and board gifted $3000 watches to four senior, highly paid employees,' he said.
'But it's not surprising given the other shocking decisions coming out of Australia Post's leadership this year.'
Ms Holgate said the watches were given as an appropriate reward to four executives who worked hard over a deal with Australia's big banks.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the gifts were as unacceptable and ordered her to step down
'They were a small number of senior people who'd put an inordinate amount of work in,' she said.
'They did receive an award on behalf of the chair, myself and the board.'
Senator Kitching grilled Mr Boys, who couldn't say how the watches were paid for.
'You spent $12,000 on watches and you can't tell me what credit card you put it on?' she said.
Mr Boys said the organisation took great care over $7.4 billion worth of expenses.
Ms Holgate did not receive a watch but senior executive Gary Starr, who also appeared before the committee and earned $809,648 in the past financial year, did.
Mr Starr was not wearing the watch and denied he had given it away as a gift.
Ms Holgate was born in Cheshire, England and moved to Australia to work for Telstra in 2003.
In 2008 she was made CEO of health supplements company Blackmores before landing the top job at Australia Post in 2017.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTg4Njc3MzMvQXVzdHJhbGlhLVBvc3Qtd29ya2Vycy1CUklMTElBTlQtcmVzcG9uc2UtYm9zcy1vcmRlcmVkLXF1aXQtMTItMDAwLUNhcnRpZXItd2F0Y2hlcy5odG1s0gGMAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODg2NzczMy9hbXAvQXVzdHJhbGlhLVBvc3Qtd29ya2Vycy1CUklMTElBTlQtcmVzcG9uc2UtYm9zcy1vcmRlcmVkLXF1aXQtMTItMDAwLUNhcnRpZXItd2F0Y2hlcy5odG1s?oc=5
2020-10-22 15:55:41Z
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