Telstra chairman John Mullen hits back at Murray over Livingstone attack

John Mullen has lobbed a salvo at David Murray over “disgraceful” criticism of Catherine Livingstone.

David Murray described “six months of absolute nightmare service’’ he received as a Telstra customer. Picture: Mike Batterham.

New Telstra chairman John Mullen has launched an extraordinary attack on former Future Fund chairman David Murray, labelling his criticism of the telco’s former chairman Catherine Livingstone as “disgraceful.’’

Answering a recent question about his criticism of Ms Livingstone’s performance while leading the Business Council of Australia, Mr Murray also took aim at her chairmanship of the telco after what he called “six months of absolute nightmare service’’ he received personally as a customer.

Ms Livingstone has just taken over as chair of the Commonwealth Bank and Mr Murray said her reign at Telstra meant she was not in “not in a good position” to start from, at CBA.

But speaking at a business luncheon in Melbourne today, Mr Mullen said: “I thought David’s comments were disgraceful and not fitting for a business leader. It does not do anyone a service to be criticising others.’’

Mr Mullen said Ms Livingstone’s record as Telstra chair “speaks for itself” after she restored the telco’s relations with Canberra and with CEO David Thodey improved its customer service and reliability.

Mr Murray was also commenting as the former chairman of the Future Fund, which held Telstra shares during Ms Livingstone’s reign.

But Mr Mullen questioned why the Future Fund sold its Telstra shares at $2.50 “when Catherine took them to $6.’’

“Im glad he wasn’t investing my money,’’ he quipped of Mr Murray.