In a statement released Wednesday, the company acknowledged the extreme fallout caused for Ms Holgate, thanking her for her leadership. However, no apology followed.
“To finalise the matter so that both parties can move on, Ms Holgate has released Australia Post from all legal claims and Australia Post is making the payment without any admission of liability. Australia Post acknowledges that it has lost an effective CEO following the events on the morning of 22 October 2020. Australia Post regrets the difficult circumstances surrounding Ms Holgate’s departure from her role as CEO," the statement read.
Ms Holgate’s lawyers issued an identical statement on her behalf.
The political firestorm began when news broke last year that Ms Holgate gifted four senior managers Cartier watches worth a grand total of $20,000 after they secured a $225 million dollar deal benefiting Australia Post’s licensed post office operators.
Ms Holgate argued she was unlawfully dismissed but Australia Post maintains she resigned. She told ABC’s 7:30 back in April that Prime Minister Scott Morrison humiliated her during a parliament hearing, declaring if she did not stand aside voluntarily “she can go”.
While he regrets the hurt caused by the parliamentary outburst, Mr Morrisson did not apologise.
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