Topics: Australia Post
James Willis: Sarah Henderson, the Liberal senator, is on the line. Sarah, good afternoon.
Senator Henderson: James, a very good afternoon to you.
James Willis: We need to say that slowly, so everyone that missed it can hear it again. The $1.2-$1.3 million figure is not the combined amount, that’s the bonus alone?
Senator Henderson: Well, the bonus, in fact, the actual bonus, which was published in my social media video, if your listeners want to go and have a look at it, $1.368 million. So an extraordinary bonus, given that Australia Post barely made a profit, and the profit was only possible because of extensive property sales. If there hadn’t have been the property sales, there would have been a loss of over $100 million, about $107 million. So I think in this cost of living crisis, as this government continues to run Australia off the cliff, so many families are suffering. The total remuneration for the year for Mr Graham was $3.127 million. That just does not add up. That is just completely over the top. And if the Minister, Anika Wells, genuinely wanted to rein in executive salaries at Australia Post, why hasn’t she done anything? This is just completely beyond the pale.
James Willis: Well, that’s right and that’s a very valid point, Sarah, because a couple of years ago when these bonuses that Australia Post was paying its top executives were first revealed, the Albanese government said, ‘don’t worry, we’ll put a stop to this.’ And you read the story today, the CEO, Paul Graham, due to the questions you’ve asked through Senate estimates and their annual report that’s come out in the last few days, his total pay was $3.13 million for the CEO of Australia Post, and there was $5 million given to the 10 of the biggest executives in the company. I mean, is the government really determined to rein any of this in?
Senator Henderson: Well, I don’t think they are and I think Anika Wells has been asleep at the wheel in terms of Australia Post’s obligations to all Australians. We uncovered a secret document which showed that they had a pretty concerning plan to shut down post offices, both in the regions and in the cities including in Sydney. And we were able to reveal the other day at Senate estimates that part of that plan has now been shelved. We’ve started a Senate inquiry into the future of licensed post offices in this country. And also we raised pretty big concerns, I certainly did, about what I can only say was misleading evidence by the managing director and CEO, Paul Graham, when he did not reveal all of the plans that Australia Post had in place, and then gave some other pretty dodgy evidence as well. And of course, as we know, Senate estimates is all about transparency.
Australia Post is here in this country to serve Australians. It’s a government business enterprise but it has a fundamental obligation to Australians. And you know, we exposed some waste, like there was an $18 million acquisition of Taiwanese e-trikes. They’ve all now been put in warehouses because of safety concerns. Though Australia Post is saying some of those will be put back on the road, so it’s not been a good few months for the postal boss, Mr Graham. But he did announce his retirement last Friday, so he will be continuing in the job, I think, until the end of the financial year.
James Willis: I know but in fairness, if you have a look at their annual report, Sarah, the question here is, I mean, what metrics are they applying to hand these bonuses out? Because it wasn’t just Paul Graham with his bonus of more than a million dollars. But there are 361 highly paid staff in Australia Post. Now in fairness, I don’t think they’re in great shape at the moment?
Senator Henderson: Well I’m looking at the remuneration report right now and, you know, we’re talking about bonuses of $434,000. We’re looking at $521,000, $561,000, $528,000. And if you look at the total remuneration of these executives, we’re talking $1.2 million, $1.4 million, $ 1.5 million, $ 1.4 million, like these are very substantial salaries. And so I think like so much that this government is failing to do, they’re showing no interest in the closures of post offices.
The minister has been completely asleep at the wheel in terms of the fact that many licensed post offices fear for their future, that they’re not economically viable, that there’s been this savage program, I think, to shut down post offices which place such a vital role in not just metro areas but right across Australia including, of course, in the regions. And I think Australia Post has got a lot of work to do to convince Australians that it has their best interests at heart.
James Willis: Well said, Sarah. We appreciate your time on the program tonight.
Senator Henderson: Yeah, great to join you, James. Thank you so much.
James Willis: Sarah Henderson, the Liberal senator and the opposition communications spokeswoman.