Australia Post: Employee takes cheeky gibe at CEO Christine Holgate

An Australia Post employee has made hilarious use of the company Twitter account amid the watch scandal — posting a public jab at the under-fire CEO.

A member of Australia Post’s own social media team has publicly mocked CEO Christine Holgate’s lavish spending — from the company’s own Twitter account, no less.

The brazen employee, “Liam”, has since deleted the cheeky comment posted via the official account, with it safe to assume his bosses weren’t too happy about it.

It comes after Ms Holgate stood aside from her top position on Thursday after it emerged she dished out four $3000 Cartier watches to high-performing executives.

RELATED: Worrying sign over Aus Post executive

Ms Holgate made the decision to “stand aside” after Thursday’s Senate estimates in Canberra and an extraordinary lashing from the Prime Minister. Picture: NCA.

The ritzy gifts were revealed at a Senate estimate hearing on Thursday, where the $2.6 million-a-year CEO admitted the watches were given to employees who brokered a lucrative deal offering banking services to post office customers in 2018.

Australia Post received a combined $66 million from Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and NAB as a result of the Bank@Post deal so their customers could access banking services at locations across the country.

While Australia Post operates as an independent business, the Federal Government is the main shareholder. Despite the company being essentially government-owned, Ms Holgate claimed no taxpayers’ money was used to purchase the watches.

The debacle has sparked uproar online – with one staff member facetiously asking for his own gift of designer jewellery as a reward for hard work.

The comment from “Liam”, posted beneath a tweet saying front line employees had worked just as hard as the company’s executives, joked that he had “light wrists”.

“Front line postal workers put in an inordinate amount of work, too. Where are their Cartier watches,” the social media user had posed.

“Don’t forget about the behind the scenes and customer support workers,” Australia Post’s official account responded to the delight and shock of followers.

“My wrist is light,” Liam added.

RELATED: Aus Post speaks out over CEO drama

Oh Liam. Picture: Twitter.

Liam’s wisecrack comes hours after Ms Holgate agreed to stand aside.

Her decision was prompted by Communications Minister Paul Fletcher announcing an independent investigation into Australia Post in light of the revelation that four executives were given generous rewards for helping secure contracts.

“I have asked the chair (of Australia Post) to provide the full support of the company for this investigation, and I have also asked the chair to inform the chief executive that she will be asked to stand aside during the course of this investigation,” he said.

Mr Fletcher earlier said he was “as shocked and concerned as everybody else” to discover the revelations about the watches in Senate estimates.

Australia Post chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo said the organisation would “fully co-operate” with the investigation after Ms Holgate revealed the watches were valued at around $3000 each.

The Australia Post spending investigation continues. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Penny Stephens

“The Australia Post Board and management team will fully co-operate with the recently announced investigation to be conducted by shareholder departments,” he said in a statement to news.com.au.

“We remain committed to delivering for our important stakeholders – our people, our Post Office partners, our customers and the community.

“Group CEO & Managing Director Christine Holgate will stand aside during the investigation. During this time, Rodney Boys, Chief Financial Officer will be acting in the role.”

Earlier, a furious Scott Morrison bluntly told Ms Holgate if she doesn’t stand aside “she can go”, adding he was “disgusted” by the abuse of taxpayers’ money.

“I was appalled and it is disgraceful and it’s not on,” he said in Question Time on Thursday.

The furore follows a string of recent controversies including revelations Australia Post spent $700,000 on plants and drama over the delivery of Pauline Hanson-branded stubby holders to public housing towers in September.

Earlier, a shaken Ms Holgate — herself wearing a gold Bulgari watch that retails for up to $48,000 — attempted to defend the purchase of the luxury items, arguing it was a legitimate reward for “an inordinate amount of work”.