Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
Former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate has given evidence to a Senate inquiry into her dramatic exit from Australia Post.
Holgate left her position last year, when the prime minister denounced her in parliament for giving Cartier watches as rewards to Australia Post executives.
Victim of a hit job, Holgate inflicted damaging hits of her own – delivering blows against Scott Morrison and Australia Post chair Lucio Di Bartolomeo, and following up her evidence with a media blitz.
She accuses Morrison of bullying and says Di Bartolomeo should resign.
Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan, who sat in on her appearance, also believes Di Bartolomeo should go.
“The CEO of Australia Post, just like any government organisation, is not appointed by the minister or the government. The government appoints a board and then the board, under the chair’s direction, hires a CEO.
"The big main job of the chair is to find a good CEO and give them good direction. And that hasn’t occurred here.
"And I think, therefore, the buck must stop with Lucio.”
Despite this, Canavan doesn’t believe an apology is owed by the prime minister for his “parliamentary reaction”, as it was “understandable and everyone had a similiar reaction”. An apology is required from the government, however, for the “dismount, how we’ve handedled the situation post the initial scandal”.
Canavan belongs to the group within the Nationals known for being pro-coal, stirring the pot, and putting pressure on leader Michael McCormack. On this podcast, he discusses the Nationals’ election prospects, as well as the possible return to parliament of former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister John Anderson, who is seeking preselection for a Sneate run.
“[John Anderson is] making a major contribution to the intellectual richness of our country[…] he’s quite a thought leader. I think having the platform of the Senate would amplify that voice a bit. I think he’d also play a very stabilising and educating sort of role in our party room.”
Kevin Rudd on avoiding Donald Trump
Energy Security Board chair Kerry Schott on a national energy plan
Tiernan Brady and Cory Bernardi reflect on the marriage postal ballot
Gareth Evans on being an Incorrigible Optimist
Darren Chester on the infrastructure spending spree
Rob Sitch on Utopia and political satire
AGL chief economist Tim Nelson on what to do with Liddell
Judith Brett on The Enigmatic Mr Deakin
Mark Butler on energy uncertainty
Nick Xenophon on media reform
Mathias Cormann on the same-sex marriage postal survey
Derryn Hinch on surviving the Senate
Tiernan Brady on same-sex marriage showdown
Michael Cooney on an Australian republic
Peter Jennings on the home affairs department
Graeme Samuel on data governance
Anna Krien on the climate wars
Alan Finkel on the future of Australia’s energy market
Gladys Berejiklian on the need to reform federal-state partnerships
Josh Frydenberg, George Christensen and Mark Butler on the Finkel review
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free