Australia Post’s preaching about the results this financial year being below expectations and the need for immediate action to reduce expenditure significantly beggars belief when you check out what the corporation has wasted money on in the last 12 months.
Here’s one example – a few months ago, CEPU Victorian Branch Secretary Joan Doyle applied to renew her Right of Entry permit.
This is the permit that the Howard Government introduced to make it harder for union officials to see their own members in their workplace. Getting a permit certificate should be a straight-forward affair – except Australia Post wheeled in its lawyers to block the Industrial Registrar from granting the certificate.
The Registrar has not advised what it intends to do. What we do know is that this exercise cost Post a lot of money. In answers to Senate Estimates questions, the union discovered Post spent staggering amounts of money to stop our officials representing CEPU members in Australia Post workplaces.
Topic: Right of Entry
Senator Lundy asked:
On 2 July 2004, Australia Post was successful in their application to revoke “the Permit to Visit & Inspect Workplaces” of Joan Doyle, the Victorian Branch Secretary of the CEPU Postal and Telecommunications Branch. What people resources both internal and external did Australia Post use in this matter? What was the cost in total to Australia Post?
Answer:
Internally – up to two lawyers acting on instructions from Human Resources and Operations areas. Externally – lawyers from Minter Ellison and Counsel were engaged to provide legal advice and representation. The total cost of external legal fees and disbursements was $118,008.18.
Question:
On 2 July 2004, Joan Doyle applied for a new Permit. Australia Post opposed the granting of a Permit but a Permit was granted after a hearing and by a Determination on 16 March 2005. What people resources both internal and external did Australia Post use in this matter? What was the cost in total to Australia Post?
Answer:
Internally – up to two lawyers acting on instructions from Human Resources and Operations areas. Externally – lawyers from Minter Ellison and Counsel were engaged to provide legal advice and representation. The total cost of external legal fees and disbursements was $17,898.70.
Question:
On 13 March 2008, Joan Doyle applied for a new Permit upon the expiry of her three-year Permit. Australia Post requested the right to be heard on the matter as to whether Joan Doyle is a “fit and proper” person to hold a Permit. What people resources both internal and external did Australia Post use in this matter? What was the cost in total to Australia Post?
Answer:
Internally – up to two lawyers acting on input from relevant State and National Human Resources Managers. Ten employees of Australia Post gave evidence during proceedings. Externally – lawyers from Minter Ellison and Counsel were engaged to provide legal advice and representation. The total cost of external legal fees and disbursements was $130,750.66.
It is worth noting that Australia Post did not make any application to the Industrial Registrar to seek revocation or suspension of the permit granted to Ms Doyle in 2005. In the circumstances evidence we believe that the whole episode is nothing more than a try on and an outrageous waste of money, time and resources.
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