Christine Holgate was treated ‘abysmally’: Australia Post chairman

Australia Post chair Lucio Di Bartolomeo says Christine Holgate was treated “abysmally” over the Cartier watches saga, but insists the board does not owe her an apology.

Giving evidence to a Senate inquiry on the watches scandal, Mr Di Bartolomeo said Ms Holgate was a “highly effective” chief executive who made an error of judgement when she rewarded senior employees luxury watches in 2018.

“I think Christine Holgate has been treated abysmally, but I believe the board and management did the right thing by her,” Mr Di Bartolomeo said.

“I don’t believe Australia Post owes her an apology, no. But I do believe she was badly treated.”

He attributed her poor treatment to the furore that engulfed Ms Holgate on October 22, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison seized on the watches revelations and told the Parliament she could “go” if she did not stand aside for an investigation.

“The environment that was created at the time – from that afternoon on through Parliament and the media thereafter, and everyone else who bought in – created a set of circumstances that made her job, her life very difficult,” Mr Di Bartolomeo said.

Mr Di Bartolomeo maintained his position that Ms Holgate agreed to stand aside in conversations between the pair on October 22. Ms Holgate has claimed this is a lie, and that she only ever offered to take annual leave.

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