The company said the request followed a conversation between Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Mr Di Bartolomeo earlier that day, in which he asked the chairman to inform Ms Holgate that she would be asked to stand aside during the investigation.
Australia Post acknowledged the conversations between Mr Di Bartolomeo and Ms Holgate included discussions about her taking annual leave, noting: The chair queried why Ms Holgate would take annual leave, given she would be paid her full entitlements (without reducing her annual leave balance) if she stood aside.
Australia Post said Ms Holgate raised no concerns when it emailed her a statement that evening announcing that she would stand aside. The company said it first learnt of her complaint when it received a letter from Ms Holgates lawyers days later asserting she had not agreed to do so.
Labors communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said Scott Morrison effectively sacked Ms Holgate on the floor of Parliament.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The federal opposition seized on Ms Holgates claims on Wednesday to accuse the Australia Post board of bowing to government pressure.
Everybody knows that if Scott Morrison and Paul Fletcher did not want Ms Holgate gone, the chairman and board would have acted differently. Scott Morrison effectively sacked Ms Holgate on the floor of Parliament, and within two hours launched a government-funded investigation led by the Maddocks law firm, Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said.
The comments mark a change in Labors position on the issue since October when Ms Rowland slammed the purchase of the watches as unacceptable.
Australia Post is a cherished national institution and it must set a high standard. Todays evidence that $12,000 was used on luxury watches does not meet that test, Ms Rowland said on October 22, before it was clarified the actual cost was $20,000.
The Communications, Electrical and Plumbers Union, which represents postal workers, threw its support behind Ms Holgate, saying she had a right to return to her position as CEO of Australia Post while the inquiry examined whether due process had been followed.