Watch Scandal - Australia

[Rolliepollie88]

Greetings All,

Wanted to share with you a recent news scandal that has taken over the country.

It involves the boss of Auspost gifting Cartier watches to 4x executives after converting on a recent business deal.

Some background:
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Australia Post is an independently-run government business enterprise that like a private sector company aims to make a profit.

While it isn't directly funded by the taxpayers, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and outgoing Finance Minister Mathias Cormann represent the government as its only shareholder, under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989.

The Australia Post CEO is the nation's highest-paid government employee.

In 2019, she was on a base salary of $1.4million but with bonuses, her chief executive remuneration swelled to $2.565million.
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She received significant backlash from the public and political scene including the Prime Minister asking her to stand down while investigation is carried out.
However 3000x post offices (privately owned and operated) around the country are protesting to strike for one day this week as well as sending $5 note to the PM to cover the costs of the watches.

I personally don’t think she’s had done anything wrong, as it’s customary for companies to gift watches for major milestone. However it probably wasn’t the smartest thing for her to wear a full gold watch at the hearing....



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[dpt.calvin]

Does this qualify as a watch scandal? Feels a little like click bait.

[Rolliepollie88]

Originally Posted by dpt.calvin

Does this qualify as a watch scandal? Feels a little like click bait.

Right...that must be the reason I shared that here ...


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[Rock]

More a (possible) scandal involving watches.
The issue here is whether government-owned enterprises that are told to run along more private-enterprise lines (for the purpose of supposed efficiency) are expected/entitled to act more like private enterprise.
This particular CEO has a track-record of behaviour that would not be acceptable for a government enterprise but would be fairly normal in private enterprise.
Governments muddy the waters by encouraging these types of enterprises to be profitable but still be focused on 'public service' type operating practices.
Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.
There is a reason that some types of 'essential service' type activities are traditionally delivered by government rather than private enterprise.
I think she should be sacked for 'bad taste' in gifting Cartier rather than Rolex.

[sgwatchguy]

Originally Posted by Rock

I think she should be sacked for 'bad taste' in gifting Cartier rather than Rolex.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Rock

I think she should be sacked for 'bad taste' in gifting Cartier rather than Rolex.

She got laughed out the store when she asked to see Rolex watches.

[Rock]

Originally Posted by bayerische

She got laughed out the store when she asked to see Rolex watches.

Yeah probably. Finding an AD where she could see half a dozen Rolex at one time would have been a challenge.

[Andad]

Is she married?

[swatty]

Originally Posted by Andad

Is she married?

Not sure, but she is on a good wicket

[infinitywatches]

ROTF.... I think she made a mistake of wearing that watch.