CLOCK TIC KING FOR OZ POST BOSS

BESIEGED Australia Post boss Christine H olga te is staring down calls to quit over a string of scandals capped off by the revelation that $12,000 was spent on Cartier watches for executives.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison forced the chief executive to stand aside on Thursday, as MPs and senior government figures pushed for her resignation.

Mr Morrison had earlier threatened that if she refused ,“she can go ”.

The fur ore erupted after Ms H olga te told a Senate inquiry that $12,000 was spent on luxury watches for four staff in 2018 after they struck a deal with the banks to provide services in post offices.

Mr Morrison ordered an urgent investigation into the Melbourne-basedMs H olga te, her executive sand theboard.

“I was appalled, it’ s disgraceful and it’ s not on ,” hesaid.

Ms H olga te argued that thegovernment-owned business was a“commercial organisation”.

“Ihavenotused taxpayers’ money ,” Ms Holgatesaid.

“It was a recommendation from our chair that these people get rewarded .”

The revelation comes a day after it was revealed Australia Post splurged $900,000injustovertwo years on indoor plants for its offices, with the spending not reined in even when staff were forced to work from homethisyear.

Australia Post also handed out $92 min bonuses this year as postage prices were jacked up and delivery times blewout.

At Thursday’ s hearing, it also emerged that of last year’ s bonus bill,$60mw as paid to 2500 employees, inc lu ding$10.1m for 67 generalmanagers.