MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

 
$150K AUSPOST GRANT TO MUSEUM RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
  

Reports that Australia Post provided $150,000 in grants to the National Museum, following facilitation by Tony Nutt, a Liberal who sits on both boards, raises more questions than answers.
 
If these reports are accurate, the Senate will be obliged to examine transactions between Australia Post and entities on which Mr Nutt is also a Board member, for conflicts of interest.
 
Mr Nutt sits on the Board of both Australia Post and the National Museum, and is known to exert significant influence in Australia Post because of his deep links with the Liberal Party.
 
Mr Nutt is a close associate of Scott Morrison, and served as Scott Morrison’s transitional director following Malcolm Turnbull’s axing as PM.
 
It’s no secret the Australia Post Board is a dysfunctional swamp of former Liberal Party operatives and mates of Scott Morrison.
 
They are seemingly incapable of executive oversight, and there are serious questions that need to be asked.
 
Background from report in The Herald Sun
 
A National Museum of Australia spokeswoman confirmed Mr Nutt “assisted the museum’s development staff in establishing initial contact with their relevant counterparts at Australia Post”.
 
“At this point the museum’s development team began discussions with Australia Post in relation to a possible sponsorship,” the spokeswoman said.
 
And
 
Asked why Australia Post handed over $150,000 to the museum, and what role Mr Nutt played in that arrangement, an Australia Post spokesman declined to comment.

“The federal government has announced an investigation and Australia Post has committed to fully co-operate,” the spokesman said.

WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2020