Ex-Australia Post chief accuses PM of humiliation in sexism scandal

The former chief executive of Australia’s postal service has accused the country’s prime minister of forcing her out of her job in the latest sexism scandal to rock the government.

Christine Holgate told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday she was left “suicidal” when Scott Morrison made a fiery speech last year demanding she step aside or be sacked for gifting four executives luxury watches worth A$5,000 ($3,800) in 2018.

Morrison told parliament in October he was “shocked and appalled” by Holgate’s gift of Cartier watches, which were a reward for clinching a A$200m-plus deal with the nation’s banks.

Holgate said she may have fallen out of favour with the government for opposing a secret consultant’s report on Australia Post, which recommended large cuts to service and jobs.

“I lost a job — a job I loved — because I was humiliated by our prime minister for committing no offence and then bullied by my chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo, who unlawfully stood me down under public direction of the prime minister,” she told MPs.

The controversy is the latest in a series of scandals involving the treatment of women by politicians that have blighted the government.

Tens of thousands of women marched in protest last month following the alleged rape of a Liberal party staff member by a colleague in the parliamentary office of the defence industry minister.

Christian Porter, minister for industry, denied an allegation that he raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988. Andrew Laming, another government MP, was recently ordered by Morrison to undertake empathy training after allegedly harassing two women. Lamming apologised over the alleged behaviour.

In blistering testimony to MPs, Holgate said she was entitled as chief executive to award the four bonuses worth up to A$150,000. But as a result of the controversy generated by the gift of the “Cartier watches”, she had been harried out of her job in November.

She contrasted her treatment to that of male MPs recently accused of committing the “most terrible atrocities” against women, who have been allowed by Morrison to remain in their jobs.

“I was hung in parliament, humiliated, not just hung, run over by a bus and reversed [over] again,” said Holgate, who is credited with turning round the financial performance of Australia Post since her appointment in 2017.

Holgate criticised Di Bartolomeo, whom she alleged “fabricated” evidence to parliament about her agreeing to stand aside from her role. She said he did this to “curry favour with his political masters” and noted all but one of Australia Post’s board was aligned to the ruling Liberal party.

Holgate also criticised media coverage of the controversy, noting some articles had depicted her as a “prostitute”.

“I have never seen any male public servant depicted in that way. So do I believe it’s partially a gender issue? You’re absolutely right I do,” she replied when asked if she thought gender was a factor in her treatment.

Di Bartolomeo, who also gave evidence to the committee, denied he had ever lied to parliament and dismissed Holgate’s call for him to resign. He said the minister for communications rang him to request that the board stand down Holgate but conceded that Holgate had not exceeded her authority by gifting the watches.