Pay for Qld Health workers? Not quite. I attended a procurement conference of about 50 people in Brisbane last Tuesday. One of the guest speakers was a director-level person from Queensland’s Department of Health. He had been asked about the payroll debacle a number of times before his presentation, so when he got up to speak he asked for no more questions about it. But, he went on to say that “99.9% of Queensland Health staff would receive their correct pay this week”.  Heroic, but stupid. More stuff-ups today with their payroll, with talk of strike action.

‘Draconian’ software tender at EPA. The EPA in Victoria has demanded software vendors responding to a tender must follow a draconian process. No negotiation or changes entered into, so companies are dropping out. Just another example of where an inflexible procurement process means the public sector may not get the best solution for the tax payer.

Celtic Woman, minus one. EMI Music and Ovation Australia are misleading fans in selling tickets to upcoming Australian shows for Celtic Woman. Ovation, EMI and Ticketmaster.com.au are falsely advertising that all five Celtic Woman members will be touring our shores in October, but the group’s US-based promoters and EMI Music have cut the tour down to four girls and have not told the Australian public or the Australian promoters, even as tickets are selling out.

Newspaper free-for-all #851: I was flying in and out of both Melbourne and Brisbane domestic airports yesterday and, on boarding, every departure gate had trays and trays of Australian newspapers along with the Herald Sun (in Melbourne) and the Courier Mail (in Brisbane) to take for free in the Qantas terminal. On arriving at Brisbane I saw some cleaners who had just finished cleaning a recently arrived Qantas plane and their trolley was overflowing with discarded ‘free’ papers. Also, on the Gold Coast last week, the McDonald’s in Surfers Paradise was giving everyone a free copy of the Gold Coast Bulletin. Again, the bins outside were overflowing with discarded papers.

Newspaper free-for-all #852: Fitness First have long given away free Sydney Morning Herald newspapers at their Bond Street (City) and St Leonards gyms. If I changed my schedule, I would not need to have the SMH delivered on weekdays.

Newspaper free-for-all #853: You get the West Australian or the Sunday Times free at McDonald’s nowadays. Can’t wait for the circulation boost stories in a month or so.

Newspaper free-for-all #854: As an SCG member, I always get a free SMH or the Sunday version whenever I go to a game. They have people handing them out.