Earlier in the month, it was revealed that Australia Post’s CEO Ahmed Fahour was paid a staggering $5.6 million last year; a bounty made up of $4.4 million and a bonus of $1.2 million, to be exact.
Following public outrage and political pressure from all sides – including a slew of comments from Senator Pauline Hanson – Fahour confirmed he would step down from the role on Wednesday.
But not before taking a not-so-subtle swipe at the former fish-and-chip shop owner turned senator…
Justifying his generous pay packet he said, “One of the things that is sometimes lost among many people is the size and extent of this organisation.” He added, “It is fair to say it is a little bit more complex than running a fish-and-chip shop.”
The thinly-veiled remarks were, of course, swiftly picked apart by the One Nation Leader.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote, “Says running Australia Post harder than owning a fish & chip shop. At least my shop never suffered a $221 MILLION loss!”
While appearing on Network Ten’s The Project, Fahour took the opportunity to ask if Hanson’s outrage and vocal criticism could have been sparked by the colour of his skin.
“You know, what Senator Hanson should really work out: does she have a real issue with how Australia Post is performing or does she have an issue with the colour of my skin or my religion?” he said.
“If it is about the business, I am more than (ready) to talk about the complexities of running a parcels online e-commerce business and what we have to do to manage a $6.5 billion turnover business and how to compete with global giants.”
“If it is about an issue of how I support social inclusion in this country and how we make sure that this beautiful multicultural country we live in, to live together and appreciate each other, if the issue is about that, then no problems at all. I am happy to do that any time of the week.”
Details of Fahour’s multi-million wage were made public after Liberal Senator James Paterson released documents provided by Australia Post in response to questions from a Senate committee.
To put things in perspective, Fahour’s salary last year was 10 times the amount of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“I think it [Fahour’s salary] is too high,” Turnbull told reporters. “I know it is a big job, it is a big company, the company has been able to improve its position, but in my view, and I say this as someone who spent most of his life in the business world before I came into politics, I think that is a very big salary for that job”.
Australia Post previously refused to disclose Fahour’s salary, saying there was “no public interest” in releasing the information.
They may have misread the mood on that one…
