South Australia’s Auditor-General has completed separate special audit reports on (a) government advertising and (b) the economic wisdom of using PPPs as a procurement model for major projects. Sadly, neither report will see the light of day until after the March 20 state election because parliament is not sitting again this term.
Both reports will be a headache for government, but the delay means voters will go to the ballot box blissfully unaware of the problems. As Crikey’s Bob Gosford reported earlier this week, Adelaide is a world of sporting events and festivals right up till election day.
As New South Wales voters have discovered, fixed four-year terms means that once you’ve decided to keep a stale government in place they will rot before your own eyes for the entire term. Such is the price to be paid when you “Dance with Lance”.
Which posh Melbourne hotel is red-faced this week after its parking valets crashed the same high-performance car twice in 24-hours in the hotel driveway ? The guest was less than impressed.
People are now leaving Quest Newspapers in advertising and all over. The pressure on us that stay is all too much and they are asking questions about what we know. The people leaving are higher ups and they are obviously starting something new against Quest. This place is a mess. The HR manager has now threatened us all for talking and everyone hates him. Crikey is the only place we can get it out but all of us are being told we can’t say anything to outsiders.
Irony in this Australian story. Worth looking back to an editorial in The Oz on the Centaur. The item, which sat below a spray about whaling and Japan, discussed the sinking, but managed to avoid mentioning who had sunk the hospital ship! Funny that …
Are hard questions being asked of The Age advertising department today? Page 19 of the Green Guide features a big ad — almost half a page — for TV sets. The headline reads: “Expertly rated as a top flatscreen buy by the Herald Sun.”
Just watching Go! (Nine’s digital channel) and saw Bravehearts’ Hetty Johnston — she who hounded Peter Hollingworth from office — starring as an unnamed “satisfied customer” for a termite treatment company called Hitman. Appropriate name.
Bookdepository.co.uk, which was THE place to buy books online, just hiked its prices in the last day or so. By 100% in many cases. Looks like I’m back to retail.
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