Gonged out
Call it the tall poppy syndrome or just a healthy supply of cynicism but the recent outpouring of honours for Public Servants on Australia Day did little to froth up the excitement of Phil B from the Commonwealth’s Department of Innovation.
   “Unless I have misinterpreted the award citations,” Phil writes, “the recipients are getting a gong for doing their everyday paid job.”
   “I thought that Australian Honours generally were not for what might be reasonably expected from paid employment.”
   Bah, humbug!

With respect
During a recent delve into our international file we stumbled across a most uplifting story from Malaysia, calling on the good people of that near neighbour nation to be kinder and more considerate in the way they treat their Public Service brothers and sisters.
   Head honcho in the Malaysian Government’s office of performance management and delivery, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, has called on his countrymen to show the PS more respect.
   “I want to request that you please say nice things about Civil Servants when you meet them next time,” Mr Jala implored.
   “If they feel good about themselves, over time they will deliver good results.”
   Now that’s what you’d have to say is good advice!

Ethical dilemma
It’s no secret that we set very high standards for word-play at PS News but sometimes, even by our lofty ambitions, there are some headlines we’re not game to use.
   So it was last week when Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced a new PS ethics division for the State’s Public Service and we saw possibilities galore for some witty headline tickling.
   Dismissing immediately the lispy link between Ethics and the famous UK county cricket side, the next obvious thought was to break the golden rule of journalism and parody a person’s name to make a humorous point.
   We reluctantly chose not to break the rule which meant “PS knocked out by Anna’s ethics” was the year’s best headline consigned to the cutting room floor.

Leaked information
Far be it from me to raise an eyebrow at the impeccable findings of the Australian Bureau of Statistics but a recent report on the environment had both of mine arching for the sky.
   Always keen to be educated by the ABS on what’s really happening across Australia, I’m not sure its summary of water usage during the past 10 years of the worst drought in Christendom really tells me much.
   “Australians are using less water…” the Bureau proclaimed.

Unpuzzled
And finally, an answer to the fire-fighting aircraft puzzle posed in last week’s PS-sssst….!
   Many thanks to reader Feach M of Canberra for explaining that fire retardant is heavier than water which explains why the plane can carry fewer litres despite there being room for it.
   QED! Thanks Feach.

Email to friend    Printer Friendly    Have Your Say!