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15 December 2008 - I have been repeatedly asked why I am continuing the exposure of ANZ’s lack of Values and Ethics, and why don’t I just move on.

Let me answer in as few words as possible. Between March 2000 and July 2003 I worked very hard for the ANZ achieving well beyond the stretch targets set.  I encountered what can only be described as perverse behaviour toward me.  It would appear I was simply doing my job too well.

My direct supervisor Sue Pelka and her boss Peter Donald were behind my back undertaking a process of undermining my work and my personal well being.  Donald even went to the trouble of falsifying my personnel records. I raised a formal complaint against Donald in July 2002.  Donald managed to thwart the so called remedy process.

In early 2003 Donald retrenched me under spurious circumstances.

In july 2003 I left the ANZ without receiving answers I had raised about Donald’s behaviour at the highest level.  In October 2003 I received a Whistleblower Statement that confirmed much of which I suspected.

During late 2003 I attempted to place clear evidence before the ANZ Head of People Capital, Shane Freeman, of Sue Pelka’s and Peter Donald’s wrong doing.  Freeman indicated I was retrenched and that even if all my allegations prove correct I had no remedy and he would “see me in court”.

After much research and saving I commenced legal proceddings in 2005. After significant time and use of my limited resources, ANZ reached a “commercial” settlement in January 2007.

ANZ never at any time admitted any wrong doing.  I may have received a monetary settlement but what was at stake was my reputation.  I knew once I took ANZ on legally i would be classified as litigious by any prospective employer. 

Peter Marriott, Shane Freeman and the Chairman Charles Goode, have all suggested I move on but when asked how they are very short on answers.

I warned at the 2007 AGM had a Corrupt Culture and that they did not understand the difference between the legal application of contractual employee arranagements and the non-legal ethical and values driven statements that ANZ issued.  The Opes Prime fiasco and related Secutity Lending Review highlighted the need for ANZ to undertake severe remedial action.

The somewhat knee jerk reaction by ANZ of the introduction of a new Code of Conduct and Ethics goes only a very little way in showing that ANZ has any respectability.

And yes I have plans to nominate for a 2009 Directorship position as I beleive ANZ still has a long way to go before it can recover [if ever] from its recent governance failures.

13 December 2008 - ANZ issued its latest Corporate Responsibility Review 2008 last week.  It has significant changes relative to previous years which does not allow a proper year on year comparison of progress, or lack thereof.

In the Review Mike Smith rightly seeks a “New Beginnings” including being responsible - being so “pissed off” it was apparent he literally had nowhere to go but now suggest we all forget the past and be responsible - Well I am sorry Mike people have long memories and while you may have been “somewhat pissed off” with the irresponsible and unethical behaviour of ANZ others have been destroyed.

As for Peter Marriott, ANZ’s CFO. chairing the new ANZ’s Executive Corporate Responsibility Council, his track record shows he blindly supported the Corrupt Culture of the ANZ.  In March 2007 he threatened me with defamation when I suggested to him that Shane Freeman and Tim L’Estrange had not done their jobs properly.  I pointed out that in 2003 Freeman had refused to even read the Whistleblower Statement [as I was then an ex-employee and the Whistleblower Protection Policy did not apply to me] and L’Estrange had lied about taking action in a letter of November 2005 with respect to the Whistleblower’s Statement as in May 2006, ANZ openly admitted it had done nothing with the very damning Whistleblower’s Statement.

Marriott’s attitude was in direct contrast to what is required under the new Code of Conduct & Ethics which states “failing to report the suspicious or dishonest conduct of a colleague reflects on your own honesty and integrity, and may ultimately affect ANZ’s reputation for honesty and integrity as well”.

Well Peter and other ANZ Executives it has come to pass that you clearly supported a Corrupt Culture by fighting every step of the way in denying that any wrong doing occured in respect of my case.  This led to the “commercial settlement” but not to an ethical of moral settlement. 

Throwing shareholders’ funds at defending the indefensible [ and remember the lawyers love this stuff as they gouge as deeply as possible - examples exist of this throughout my case {medition #1} - as ANZ has very deep pockets] is a way of keeping themselves and their cronies employed.
So Mr Marriott you appopintment is a bit like placing the ”fox in charge of the hen house”.  By your past record I believe you are totally unsuitable for the role.

6 December 2008 – The job cuts announced today are just the start. Watch the move toward ANZ’s failure and becoming an Asian based potential takeover target.

Unless ANZ makes some very bold moves of contrition around the Opes Prime fiasco they are finished as a regional bank let alone a super regional bank.

4 December 2008 – Thank you to all those people who have emailed indicating their support and advising of their proxies.

It is noted that all ANZ employees are required to undertake remedial training in the new ANZ Code of Conduct. This appears to be a direct result of my complaints about the lack of understanding of ethics and values as raised at the 2007 AGM. What’s next potty training?

Quite apart from the cost, the indignity of having so called professional bankers having to undertake such basic re-training in the Code of Conduct not once but annually, serves to highlight just how entrenched the Corrupt Culture at ANZ is.

The lack of use of the ANZ Whistleblower Protection Policy highlights the fear people have of retribution. My case highlighted that fact in no uncertain terms. Even Tim L’Estrange, the then Company Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel when asked, in late 2006 during offline legal negotiations, if I could get my job back stated that there was “too much bad blood”. Wow – whilst it was recognised I was subjected to a “hate” [ANZ’s QC’s word] campaign and serial dishonesty, because I had gone public/legal, I was not allowed back.

Retribution is alive and living in the ANZ. Oh, and Tim did quickly retract his comment indicating that there was nothing suitable for me at the ANZ when he realized what he had stated.

I hope Charles Goode recognizes how misguided he was at the 2007 ANZ AGM where he advised that all was well with ANZ Whistleblower process. Goode indicated ANZ needed affirmation by a QC – what nonsense this was not a legal concept but a moral/ethical concept.

More shortly.

10 April 2008 - In view of ANZ Bank’s recent Opus Prime debacle I again make the Claim that ANZ has a Corrupt Culture. I suggest you read the email exchanges between Peter Marriott of March 2007 where Marriott apart from threatening defamation, defended the dishonest culture by passing the buck. I will be using the Opus Prime event as yet another example of ANZ’s Corrupt Culture in my 2008 Directorship Campaign. See the Corrupt Culture section for the key email exchanges.

13 March 2008 - Advice to all Directors about ANZ Corrupt Culture and their lack of response to my letter of 13 Janaury 2008. Also advice as to what were the outcomes of the Investiagtions. See Corrupt Culture Section for copy of this letter.

12 March 2008 - My response to Bob Santamaria asking what were the outcomes at the Conclusion of Investigations. See Corrupt Culture Section for copy of this letter.

27 February 2008 - Bob Santamaria the ANZ Group General Counsel & Company Secretary provides a self serving letter titled Conclusion of Investigations. No indication as to the outcome of the investigations is provided and no denial of the Corrupt Culture claim is provided. See Corrupt Culture Section for copy of this interesting letter.

13 January 2008 - In a follow up to AGM issues of Whistleblower provided letter to each Director challenging them to disprove my claim that ANZ has a Corrupt Culture. See Corrupt Culture Section for copy of letter.

7 January 2008 - At request of Chairman at 2007 AGM provided letter to Chairman contianing further evidence of Peter Donald’s dishonesty. See Corrupt Culture Section for copy of letter.

21 December 2007 - New Article - Amazing ANZ Whistleblower Protection Policy Not Required following on from ANZ 2007 AGM.

6 December 2007

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