Behind the files, beneath the air conditioner and beside the water cooler lurk the real news stories of the Public Service and PS News editor Frank Cassidy has had his nose in the air, back to the wall, shoulder to the wheel and ear to the ground to dig them out.
So, fresh from his physiotherapist here’s what he’s found out:

PS-sssst...!

Fighting for crime
One thing that can be said about the Crime and Corruption Commission of Western Australia is that it’s definitely not backward in going forward.
   Offering visitors to its website a very prominent button to use to lodge a complaint, report misconduct or notify it of corruption, the CCC leaves no doubt that it is just busting to receive a contact.
   “Complain Now!” the button implores. “Report Now!” it demands. “Notify Now!” it pleads.
   It almost makes you feel like you’re missing something if you don’t!

Down with drink
It’s not often the complex concepts of public administration policy can be summed up in a few snappy words but letter-to-the-editor correspondent Sharon R from the Tax Office has managed to do just that in magnificent style this week (See Letters here).
Aiming both barrels at the demon alcohol and what she sees as its evil effects on society, the perspicacious Ms R offers the following unarguable explanation for why Governments don’t ban the stuff: “We need the taxes from alcohol,” she argues eloquently, “so we can afford to treat all the alcohol related diseases and problems it creates in the first place”.
If only all policy decisions could be so clear cut!

Unquotable!
Very smart move by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in South Australia to publish a new and comprehensive guide to the preparation, planning, presentation and printing of Departmental Annual Reports.
   With detailed and excellent sections on timing, tabling, styles and standards, the guide ticks all the right boxes – until it tackles the prosaic but predictable question of quotation marks.
   “Modern publishing prefers single quotation marks,” it pontificates inexplicably. “Double quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes.”
   What the ‘???????’ or “???????”.
   Either way, that’s not what I was taught in Mrs Cannon’s English class!

Pot calls kettle black (again)
And now for the pedants, proofreaders and downright picky amongst us, the following bloopers have been spotted and are reported here with the usual brashness of a recidivist bloopist and apologies to the hardworking staff who unfortunately missed them.
   Top of the pile is a notice from the Australian Public Service Commission spruiking a forum on tapping the talent of staff with disabilities but misspelling the name of the main speaker, its own Public Service Commissioner Steve Sedgwick. Tch tch.
   Not far behind was the University of Sydney’s report of the NSW Government’s agreement to back a new China Study Centre, quoting Premier Kristina Keneally as offering her “in-principal” support.
   Must be a schooly thing!

Beach party
And finally, for all the former pupils of Dromana Primary School 184 in Victoria, it’s the town’s 150th birthday next year and there’s a back to school reunion in March to celebrate.
The contact is (03) 5987 2367 and more information is on the school’s website dromanaps.vic.edu.au

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