Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate.Credit:Justin McManus
The bill for hiring leading public relations consultant Ross Thornton reached more than $119,000 for just 38 days between June and July,with the former adviser to James Hardie and AMP still engaged by Australia Post.
In written answers to the Senate dated June 23,Australia Post confirmed it had hired crisis-management firm Domestique,where Mr Thornton is a partner,to provide"communication planning"and"issues management advice services".
It followed an announcement that Labor and the Greens would seek to overturn temporary regulatory powers granted to Australia Post by the Morrison government to allow letters to be delivered in metropolitan areas every second day,rather than every day,remove the priority mail product and extend delivery time for intrastate letters to five days.
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Australia Post said on Monday that Domestique was still engaged but not on an ongoing retainer,and"provided advice on an ad hoc basis".
The nation's mail delivery service has provided the information to a Senate committee in response to a series of questions regarding its financial management but has refused to break down how much of its money was spent.
Australia Post's admission comes amid the organisation's warnings that Australians should prepare to post their Christmas parcels up to six weeks in advance to ensure gifts arrive in time as it deals withmassive backlogs at delivery centres.