Australia Post

May 2021

© Commonwealth of Australia 2021
ISBN: 978-1-76093-232-9

View the report as a single document:

View the report as separate downloadable parts:

Members

List of recommendations

List of relevant names

Executive summary

  The Holgate matter
  The future of Australia Post

Part 1—Introduction, Engagement and Background

Chapter 1—Introduction

  Referral of the inquiry
  Conduct of the inquiry
  Acknowledgement
  Note on references
  Structure of the report

Chapter 2—Australia Post's engagement with the Senate

  Committee view

Chapter 3—Background to the inquiry

  Background to the inquiry
  Reviews and inquiries into Australia Post

Part 2—The Holgate matter

Chapter 4—Timeline of events

  Events leading to Ms Holgate's resignation
  Ms Holgate's resignation
  Events following Ms Holgate's resignation
  Recent developments

Chapter 5—The purchase of the watches

  Involvement of the former Chair
  Involvement of the Board
  Compliance with Australia Post policy and the PGPA Act
  Committee view
  Comparison with other bonuses, rewards and remuneration
  Committee view

Chapter 6—The standing aside of Ms Holgate

  Did Ms Holgate
  Involvement of the Prime Minister and Shareholder Ministers
  Committee view
  Wider implications of the events
  Committee view

Chapter 7—Actions surrounding Ms Holgate's resignation

  Actions of the Board and Australia Post leading up to the resignation
  Committee view
  Ms Holgate's resignation
  Actions of the Board and Australia Post following the resignation
  Actions of the Shareholder Ministers
  Committee view
  Status of Ms Holgate's employment contract
  Efforts to resolve the matter
  Committee view
  Committee view

Chapter 8—The adequacy of the Board's oversight

  Governance issues and oversight failures of the Board
  Independence of the Board
  Committee view

Part 3—The future of Australia Post

Chapter 9—Challenges and opportunities for Australia Post

  The economic and community value of Australia Post
  Recent regulatory, organisational and policy changes to Australia Post
  The Boston Consulting Group Review undertaken for the government
  Committee view
  Committee view

Chapter 10—Servicing rural and regional Australia

  Australia Post's community service obligations to rural and regional communities
  Deloitte Access Economics:
  Recent policies and regional, rural and remote communities
  Committee view

Liberal and Nationals Senators' dissenting report

Senator Pauline Hanson's additional comments

Appendix 1—Submissions and additional information

Appendix 2—Public hearings and witnesses

Appendix 3—Additional information on Australia Post

  Boston Consulting Group: Australian and International Postal Services Overview Background Report (2014)
  Deloitte Access Economics: Economic and Social Value of Australia Post (2018)
  PricewaterhouseCoopers:
  Senate inquiry into Licensed Post Offices (2013)
  Consideration by the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3526
ec.sen@aph.gov.au