12       Environment and Communications References Committee—Reference—Australia Post

The Leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (Senator Hanson) Leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation , pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1—That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 April 2021:

The circumstances leading to the direction by the Minister for Communications to the Chair of Australia Post on 22 October 2020, that the Chief Executive Officer of Australia Post, Christine Holgate, be stood down pending an investigation into her gifting in 2018 of watches to four managers who secured a $225 million investment into the organisation, with particular reference to:

(a)              if the gift of the watches was with the knowledge of the then Australia Post Chair and within existing Australia Post policy;

(b)              how the gifting of four watches compares with bonuses and gifts provided during the term of the previous Chief Executive Officers and within other government owned corporations such as the National Broadband Network;

(c)              actions of the Board of Australia Post following Ms Holgate’s offer of resignation on 2 November 2020 leading up to the Chair’s request for her to sign an amendment to her contract which would mean the immediate termination of her employment without any benefits, as against the $11 million bonus paid to her predecessor when he stepped down;

(d)             the veracity of evidence provided by the Chair of Australia Post to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee during an estimates hearing on 9 November 2020;

(e)              the current status of Ms Holgate’s employment with Australia Post;

(f)               the issues surrounding the secret review of Australia Post by the Boston Consulting Group leading to the introduction of changes to Australia Post’s service model;

(g)              the future of reductions to Australia Post’s service model; and

(h)             any other related matters.

Question put and passed.