Ex-Australia Post boss Christine Holgate’s luxury splurge revealed

A $2095 pen, Louis Vuitton gifts and $200k on chauffeur services are just the tip of ex-Aussie Post boss Christine Holgate’s spending spree.

Credit card records have revealed the full extent of former Australia Post boss Christine Holgate’s spending, including Montblanc and Louis Vuitton gifts and $200,000 on a chauffeur service.

The records, obtained in a Herald Sun investigation, show in three years as the nation’s top postie, Ms Holgate flew to Beijing, London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tokyo, Washington, Singapore, Geneva, Toronto, Shanghai and Hanoi, staying in five-star hotels.

Her staff were even treated to almost $1500 worth of ice cream at a leadership meeting in the early stages of the coronavirus crisis.

The CEO, who earned up to $2.5m a year, resigned last year after Scott Morrison said he was “appalled” by the $19,950 purchase of Cartier watches to reward four staff.

A government-ordered review, released on Friday, questioned the oversight of Ms Holgate’s spending and warned other purchases “may be inconsistent with public expectations and Australia Post policies”.

CEO of Australia Post after she was engulfed in a spending scandal.

The Herald Sun can now reveal credit cards held by Ms Holgate and her office were also used to pay for:

A MONTBLANC pen worth $2095 for retiring chairman John Stanhope;

A SINGER to perform Christmas carols in the office foyer, costing $9900;

A ROOM at QT Melbourne for two meetings, totalling $3032 despite the hotel being 200m from Australia Post’s headquarters; and

TWO leadership conferences totalling $42,846 at The Glasshouse, overlooking Collingwood’s training ground, where Ms Holgate is a club director.

Australia Post also shelled out $208,267 on a private car service for Ms Holgate — who owned a Range Rover with “POSTY1” plates — to drive her between her home, office and meetings, allowing her to “travel safely and securely”.

Ms Holgate’s spokesman said her expenses and remuneration were “significantly less than her predecessor”, and all credit card costs were checked in an annual audit, with spending by the card held by her office “signed off by the (chief financial officer)”.

Ms Holgate enjoyed plenty of overseas trips, including one to London.

Ms Holgate said a $1500 meal at top restaurant Kisume was an ‘executive dinner after development day’.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has ordered Australia Post to review its governance protocols “to ensure that they comply with its legislative obligations and reflect public expectations”.

Several board members told the review Ms Holgate made a “poor choice of words” when she said taxpayers’ money was not used to buy the Cartier watches. All agreed the Australian people were the “shareholders” of the government-owned business. The Herald Sun understands they approved the pen for Mr Stanhope and signed a card.

The records reveal two workers were given what Ms Holgate called “approved recognition gifts” totalling $720 from Louis Vuitton, a staffer working “extended hours” received a $590 present from Montblanc, and $1780 was spent on a luxury gift for a departing executive.

Two workers were given what Holgate called ‘approved recognition gifts’ totalling $720 from Louis Vuitton.

Holtgate bought $1870 worth of Grand Final tickets from Collingwood, half was however reimbursed.

Ms Holgate said AFL Grand Final tickets worth $1870 were purchased from Collingwood for Australia Post’s government and business general manager’s customers, half of which was reimbursed. Two “high performing” managers received tickets worth $186.

Ms Holgate’s spokesman said rewarding performance and loyal service was “standard practice” and a “staple of commercial management”.

Ms Holgate said a $1500 meal at top restaurant Kisume was an “executive dinner after development day”, while another $1518 dinner was held there to farewell two executives. An end-of-year executive dinner at Donovans cost $500.

While she was based in Sydney, Australia Post paid $34,500 for her to stay at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt during her first nine months in the job.

As CEO, Ms Holgate spent $88,775 on her card, while the card in the name of her office — also used for the chairman and executive team — racked up charges worth $963,955, including $507,462 on domestic and international flights.

An Australia Post spokesman said the organisation “has already implemented interim measures and is updating, where required, internal policies and procedures”.

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