Holgate lets fly at PM’s conduct
CHRISTINE Holgate has lashed Scott Morrison for keeping men accused of “terrible atrocities” against women in his party while “humiliating” her out of Australia Post.
Appearing before a senate inquiry into her controversial departure on Tuesday, Ms Holgate declared she had “done no wrong” and claimed the saga had damaged her health and left her suicidal.
She left her role as Australia Post chief executive officer in October over revelations senior executives had been gifted expensive Cartier watches, but has since been cleared of wrongdoing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared the gifts “disgraceful” and told parliament Ms Holgate had been instructed to stand aside. Ms Holgate said she did not know why the Prime Minister made that intervention, but claimed it made her position untenable.
“I lost my job, a job that I loved, because I was humiliated by our Prime Minister for committing no offence and then bullied by my chairman,” she said. “I was thrown under the bus by the chairman of Australia Post, to curry favour with his political masters.
“But I’m still here and I’m stronger for surviving it.”
Mr Morrison has refused to expel Andrew Laming from the Coalition party-room after the MP admitted allegations of bullying and harassment, and
Christian Porter remains in cabinet despite a historical rape allegation levelled at the former attorney-general.
Ms Holgate said she had been “hung” for lesser crimes.
“Members of parliament have been accused of the most terrible atrocities towards women, proven with one of them, and they’re allowed to … remain in their jobs and represent our country,” she said.
Ms Holgate complained she had been depicted as a “prostitute” during fallout from the revelations, and said gender played a role in her departure.
“I have never seen any male public servant depicted in that way,” she said.
Ms Holgate accused Australia Post chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo of “fabricating” evidence and falsely claiming she had agreed to stand aside.
She called for Mr Di Bartolomeo to be sacked “not because of me, (but) because he’s lied to you all”.
But appearing before the committee just hours later, Mr Di Bartolomeo flatly denied misleading parliament and said he would not resign.