Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate has been lashed by a Senate committee.Credit:Peter Rae
A Senate inquiry intoregulatory changes allowing Australia Post to deliver letters every other day in cities and push out delivery times on some routes was scathing over responses from senior management,condemning them for"a lack of understanding of the critical scrutiny role played by the Senate".
The inquiry was established in June after Labor and the Greens sought to scrap the changes,fearing it would result in postie job losses.
The damning report found some responses provided by Australia Post to senators'questions failed to grasp the responsibility of a publicly-owned entity to be accountable to"the people of Australia through the Parliament and its committee system".
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"All[government business enterprises] must ensure senior staff and officials have a clear understanding of the importance of parliamentary scrutiny,and have the skills and capability to meet their obligations in relation to committee processes,"the report said.
It highlighted particular evidence from Ms Holgate and general counsel and corporate secretary Nick Macdonald during the hearing,where Ms Holgate did not answer questions onalleged efforts to monitor staff for leaks and took the question on notice.
The postal service later replied in writing that it maintained"a risk-based security program".