Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Kitching, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) Australia is in recession,

  (ii) 520,000 workers have lost their jobs, over a million Australians are unemployed, and families are struggling to pay their bills,

  (iii) on 31 March 2020, the Australia Post Chief Executive Officer (CEO) declared senior management would take 20% wage cuts and forsake any right to a bonus this year,

  (iv) on 28 August, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported that the CEO had secretly reversed course and asked the Board to reinstate up to $7 million in senior executive bonuses, contradicting her statement in March,

  (v) on 2 September, the SMH reported that Australia Post had asked workers to volunteer to deliver parcels in their own cars, rather than hiring new workers, and

  (vi) on 2 September, the Minister for Communications claimed that foregoing executive bonuses should be a quid pro quo for being granted permission to cut services;

(b) considers it highly inappropriate that the CEO has sought to obtain millions in executive bonuses in the midst of a recession and service cuts, and in contradiction of promises made in March; and

(c) calls on the Chair of Australia Post to wake up and stop this inappropriate handout from proceeding.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 2 September the Australia Post chairman stated that the Australia Post board had determined that no short-term incentive payment would be made to the executive team for the financial year 2020. The government welcomes the board's decision, which is in keeping with the CEO's commitment from earlier in the year.

Question agreed to.