From our “Never call for comments unless you know the answer” file comes the perfect example of the adage in action, courtesy of the nation’s trademarks regulator, IP Australia.
Declaring a 6-week community consultation program on proposed changes to the trade mark rules had closed, the Agency reported that only one submission had been received.
“From 17 January to 1 March 2019, IP Australia sought public comment on the exposure draft,” it reported.
“One submission was made to the consultation.”
But, in classic “never call for comments unless you know the answer” form, the Agency proved itself to be well on top of its game.
“The submission .., expressed support for the exposure draft regulations”.
Excellent work, well done!
Tram on target
A visit to the national capital now where a soon-to-be on-track light rail service was involved in a near miss incident with a pedestrian, prompting the local Government to launch a media campaign warning the city’s pedestrian community to take care when near the light rail tracks.
Announcing the campaign, a spokesperson for the Department concerned said it would focus on the dangers to pedestrians and all road users of failing to pay attention around light rail vehicles and include input from a range of Government Agencies.
“ACT Policing and ACT Emergency Services Agency, Transport Canberra and Canberra Metro will be targeting pedestrians, cyclists and motorists,” the spokesperson said.
That should make them sit up and take notice!
Un-‘n’-ding search
Revisiting last week’s quest for the reason so many State police forces suffer from the curse of ‘nounsense’ instead of adjectivism when picking their names – i.e.Victoria Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police etc – instead of Victorian Police, Tasmanian Police and so on, it appears the reason is a mystery.
Following-up with further research on the issue, PS-sssst! notices the malaise hasn’t reached the national level with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force respecting their ‘n’s and consequently leading the way in literate policing.
The offer of free book prizes for any explanation for the un-‘n’ed monikers adopted by the State forces is still open, simply send your thoughts to [email protected]
Legal largesse
To Rama‘s weekly giveaway now in which three lucky readers have the chance to win a free DVD set of the first three seasons of the classic courtroom TV show from the 1950s and 60s, Perry Mason.
To win the collectors set, all we had to do was name the creator and scriptwriter of the series and be among the first three entries to be squeezed out of PS News’s infamous Barrel of Booty.
The writer was Erle Stanley Gardner, and the first three entries with the correct answer were Stephanie H from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Tokyo, Glen H from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and Andrew D from the Office of the South Australian Valuer-General.
Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone who took part. The DVD sets will be on their way to the winners shortly,
For another chance join Rama’s Army of Weekly Winners, simply visit this week’s giveaway and take your chance. It’s free, it’s fun and you have to be in it to win it.
Good luck!
Approximately spot on!
And finally, the Federal Budget stopped the nation again in the past week, with the Federal Minister for the Public Service, who happens also to be the Minister for Finance, declared he had faith in the Australian Public Service to administer the money anticipated to be collected in the year 2019-2020.
Setting aside the fact that the Public Service has been ‘administering’ Budget funds for over 100 years so ought to deserve the faith, it was a nice gesture from the Minister, who also showed himself to be a creature of great punctiliousness.
“The Australian Public Service will have responsibility for administering approximately $500.9 billion of taxpayers’ money in the coming financial year,” the good Minister declared.
Approximately $500.9 billion and not approximately $500 billion?
Now that’s meticulous and scrupulous punctiliousness.
Till next week…..
