Australia Post, Pauline Hanson in ‘hate mail’ scandal

Australia Post has become engulfed in a scandal involving Pauline Hanson stubby holders and residents in a locked-down public housing tower.

Australia Post has become engulfed in scandal over its push for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation-branded stubby holders to be delivered to residents in a locked-down Melbourne public housing tower.

Explosive allegations published in The Age claim Australian Post boss Christine Holgate threatened to call police unless the City of Melbourne – which was managing the government-enforced lockdown of the public housing towers – delivered 114 parcels containing the stubby holders. The council had intercepted the parcels at a complex in July.

Australia Post’s intervention came as it sought Senate approval to ease its obligation to deliver mail from Monday to Friday to every second business day in metropolitan areas until June next year.

Federal MPs are demanding Ms Holgate explain her actions, which followed Senator Hanson being banned from the Today show for making racist comments about residents in the housing commission towers.

It’s believed council officials decided against delivering the stubby holders out of fears they would inflame an already tense situation.

Victorian Labor MP and multicultural affairs spokesman Andrew Giles said Australia Post helped Senator Hanson add insult to injury to those Australians who did not want the items.

“It’s hard to imagine a bigger prompt to annoy people than a stubby holder (from Senator Hanson) saying ‘I’m thinking what you’re thinking’,” he said.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson was accused of making ‘ill-informed and divisive’ comments after she suggested that residents locked down in Melbourne’s housing commissions couldn’t speak English. Picture: Gary Ramage

Senator Hanson’s stubby holder. Picture: Supplied

It's caused a stir for Australian Post CEO Christine Holgate. Picture: Supplied

Mr Giles said the events raised questions about Ms Holgate’s leadership and the priorities of Australia Post under that leadership.

“The CEO from the reports had a very direct involvement,” he said.

“The reports make clear that Australians deserve to get to the bottom of why it was that the CEO of Australia Post was working so hard to appease a crossbench senator.

“In circumstances where the police were called it appears to make sure that Pauline Hanson’s hate mail gets delivered to public housing tenants while not only is Australia Post unable to confirm timely delivery of essential items. This raises really big questions.”

Independent Senator Rex Patrick said it was proper for Australia Post to deliver mail and parcels in a reliable and timely manner.

“But how many times has Australia Post’s general counsel written threatening to call in the police to ensure good service? I suspect not often,” he said.

“This requires further investigation.

“I’ll be making a freedom of information request today to see how many similar letters have been penned by general counsel recently.”

Many people are asking where they can find one of the famous Pauline Hanson stubby coolers.

You can find them at the @OneNationAus shop online

LINK: https://t.co/1ShWCFlBEL

Might as well get your Christmas shopping done early and help out One Nation at the same time! pic.twitter.com/rqK0PdMVCM

— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) September 10, 2020

An Australia Post spokesman told The Age it took its obligation to deliver mail “seriously”.

“Upon subsequently being made aware that the items did not reach their ultimate destination, we raised it with the City of Melbourne and engaged with the sender in good faith to resolve the matter,” the spokesman said.

Australian Greens communications spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young, who has a meeting scheduled with Ms Holgate on Monday, said she would ask about her involvement.

“I have a long list of things to talk to the CEO about,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“It’s also an issue which will get some attention during Senate Estimates.”

She condemned Senator Hanson’s move to deliver the stubby holders to the flats “appalling behaviour” for an elected member of parliament.

Senator Hanson’s office was contacted for comment.