Watches purchase ‘unwise’: minister

EMPLOYMENT Minister Stuart Robert has said it was “probably unwise” for Christine Holgate to have bought four Cartier watches for Australia Post executives, during a tense exchange with ABC host David Speers on Sunday.

Mr Robert was appearing on ABC’S Insiders program when asked about Ms Holgate, the former Australia Post chief executive who stood aside last year after revealing she used a company credit card in 2018 to reward four senior executives with luxury Cartier watches.

Ms Holgate bought the executives the watches, valued at $12,000 each, for securing a lucrative deal, rather than issuing up to $150,000 in bonuses, which would have been permitted.

An independent report later found she broke no policies, but did not act within certain guidelines of her role.

Last year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison slammed the move in parliament and pushed for Ms Holgate’s resignation.

Mr Robert was asked about the issue by Insiders host Speers: “Are you sharing the Prime Minister’s view that what she did was appalling and disgraceful?”

“I wasn’t across it,” Mr Robert responded.

Speers interjected: “It is not a lot to be across here. It’s not a detailed question. She bought some Cartier watches for four employees worth 20 grand in total. Was that appalling?”

“It was probably unwise for a government business enterprise to do that,” Mr Robert said. “I think that point has been well made and then of course it was independently investigated.”

Mr Morrison said last week he regretted the distress his “strong language” last year had caused Ms Holgate, but refused to apologise.

He said he still believed the gifts were inappropriate.