To an Auditor-General’s office this week where even the most popular and acclaimed Government Departments and Agencies are often brought down to earth by active audit armies uncovering mistakes, misapplications, misinterpretations and just plain missing money in government organisations falling short of the rules of finance and other activities.
While auditors are experts at uncovering covered errors and publishing them for all to see, the question arises: What if an audit fails to find anything worth commenting on?
Is it a waste of the taxpayers’ money and does an entire audit team demoralised, discouraged and dismayed?
The answer lies with the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in Canberra which released three audits in the past week or so without a list of recommendations for improvement.
No. 1:
“No recommendations are made to Snowy Hydro Limited” was the verdict when the ANAO completed an audit of the new $5.11 billion Snowy Mountains energy project.
No. 2
“Governance board in the CSC is largely effective” the ANAO declared under its ‘What did we recommend’ section after an audit of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation; and
No. 3.
“The governance board in AFTRS is largely effective,” the ANAO said after auditing the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
As a taxpayer PS-sssst! is pleased to know its money is being spent in such careful hands but wonders if the day will ever come when the audit offices won’t be needed!
Pushing up for mental health
To Victoria now where the State’s generous Country Fire Authority has been showing just how generous it is by holding a 24-day competition to raise funds for mental health awareness.
An excellent cause and a goal well worth applauding.
Indeed, the organisers explained quite clearly how the competition was being run and what the participants needed to do.
“CFA members from across the State had been taking part in the 2022 Push-Up Challenge to help increase conversations about mental health,’’ the generous organisers explained.
“Roughly 130 push-ups per day.”
Congratulations to everyone who supported the competition but the non-participant slack and idle PS-sssst! raised instead a typically rude question for the organisers.
PS-sssst! wonders whether the wonderful push-uppers who drew attention to mental health for 24 days emerged from the demanding competition with their mental health fully intact or whether it helped to be a little ‘creative’ at the beginning.
Either way, all should be congratulated for their charity unselfishness.
Road using the final words
Still in Victoria where a new road safety campaign has been launched pleading with road users to heed safety warnings as the State’s number of road deaths passes 100.
According to the Chief Executive of the Transport Accident Commission: “While campaigns and education are vital when it comes to reducing road trauma, the community needs to work together to draw a line in the sand.”
“Road safety authorities are particularly concerned with the rise in regional fatalities, the increase in pedestrian and motorcycle rider deaths, and the number of young people dying,” the Chief said.
He said that “with deaths in road users aged 18-25 almost double this time last year.”
Call PS-sssst! a bit thick, but it can’t quite work out what: “deaths in road users aged 18-25 almost double this time last year.”
Anyone with a translation, send it to [email protected]
Book full of Mum’s the word
Giveaway time again now when Rama Gaind digs into her collection of complimentary giveaways and makes a reader or two (or three, or four) the lucky winners of her weekly giveaway game.
This week one lucky reader will become the owner of chiropractor Dr Ali Young’s pro-Mum book Work. Mama. Life dedicated to working mothers everywhere.
To be Rama’s winner, all we needed to do was let her know that we know the sub-title of Dr Young’s book and then manage to be the first entry out of the PS News infamous Barrel of Booty.
The answer was: “From Motherhood Burnout to Abundant Health, Joy and Wellbeing” and the lucky reader to get to read it for free is Anne B from the Department of Social Services in Canberra.
Congratulations Anne, and thanks to all who took part in Rama’s regular round of romping reading this week. The book will be on its way to Anne very soon.
For another chance to join Rama’s good luck giveaway game simply visit one of her latest reviews of the Book Own It! at this PS News link to answer her quizzical quiz question and/or her other review of the Book Lonely Planet’s Experience Guides: Portugal at this link for a second chance.
It’s free, it’s fun and it’s open right now.
May the gods of good luck be with us all!
News Alert: The one and only!
And finally, rumours have rumbled that the con artists copying the popular PSNews Alerts have raised their ugly heads again by circulating unapproved messages to some small areas of the public sector, pretending to be the real thing PS News Alerts and promising to provide a similar service.
As the creator of PS News Alerts over 10 years ago, PS News Alerts is the No. 1 service provider as well as the most popular source for readers wanting to be informed of upcoming conferences, training courses and other events important to ensuring ongoing knowledge and career advancement.
And, just like PS News itself, PS News Alerts is the built-in way for PS life to be fully informed at every level in every public service in every part of the nation delivering your support for PS News and PS News Alerts so we can all be sure we’ll still be here in the months and years ahead.
So the slogan for this week: “PS News and PS News Alerts – It’s where it’s News that makes the difference”.
Keep the complaints coming in!
Until next week…..
Something to share?
Send to [email protected]
(And, yes, it can be anonymous!)
