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Outspoken Senator Pauline Hanson is demanding Scott Morrison take back his “savage comments” about former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate after securing a probe into the government’s handling of the Cartier watches scandal.
The Senate will investigate the circumstances surrounding the November resignation of Ms Holgate, who resigned after revelations senior executives were given Cartier watches collectively worth almost $20,000.
Mr Morrison described the expenditure as “disgraceful” in October and called for Ms Holgate’s head.
“(She) has been instructed to stand aside. If she doesn’t wish to do that, she can go,” he told parliament.
But One Nation leader Ms Hanson lashed the “savage comments” and accused Mr Morrison of “throwing (Ms Holgate) under the bus”.
RELATED: Australia Post, Pauline Hanson in ‘hate mail’ scandal
She said nearly $80m in bonuses being dished out to NBN executives, reported by the Australian Financial Review, showed the Prime Minister had been hypocritical.
“You don’t get to falsely and savagely trash the career of one of the nation’s most successful business leaders for no reason and then get away with it,” she said.
“Christine Holgate should never have been made a political pawn. She’s an outstanding human being who’s achieved remarkable results at Australia Post.
“Her skills, determination and dedication have driven Australia Post to become the envy of its international counterparts.”
Ms said the inquiry would help “get to the bottom of this whole appalling saga” and demanded Mr Morrison apologise.
Ms Holgate was stood aside during an investigation into the watch saga ordered by Mr Morrison.
But she announced her resignation before the completion of the report, which found she did not have board approval before buying the watches.
Senator Hanson said she hoped for Ms Holgate’s reinstatement, subject to the review’s findings.
But a spokesman for the Communication Workers Union described that outcome as “unlikely”.
“It would be a remarkable turn of events to see Christine Holgate return as the CEO of Australia Post and would leave the Prime Minister and the mostly Liberal-appointed board with a significant amount of egg on faces,” he said.
In July, Ms Holgate threatened to call the police unless the City of Melbourne agreed to deliver One Nation-branded stubby holder to residents of a Melbourne public housing tower, which was locked down due to COVID-19.
Despite sending the stubby holders, Ms Hanson had labelled the tower’s residents as “drug addicts” and “alcoholics”.
Labor MP Andrew Giles described the packages as “hate mail” given many residents were Muslims who were religiously opposed to consuming alcohol.
Officials had initially decided against delivering the stubby holders, fearing it would exacerbate an already tense situation.
The comments prompted Today to ban Ms Hanson from appearing on the show.
Ms Holgate’s intervention came as Australia Post sought One Nation’s support to ease its obligation to deliver mail to every second business day in metropolitan areas.
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