Fat cat salaries, a post-career gravy train at their disposal and ‘gongs’ pinned on chests? Rex Patrick looks at the senior echelons of the public service to see how they’re faring in these ‘difficult’ times.
Senior public servant gravy train: all profit and no accountability
The Big Four Global Accounting Firms and Corporate Tax Evasion
Editors’ Note: Earning profits in one country but reporting them into another to reduce or even wipe out taxes is a huge and worsening global problem. Below experts in critical accounting discuss an Australian tax scandal’s worldwide significance. This article, lightly edited for an American audience, first appeared at Michael West Media, an independent investigative news organization focused on financial misdeeds Down Under.
SYDNEY, Australia — The scandalous behavior and lack of accountability of the Big Four accountancy firms – Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and EY – remains a regular feature of the news cycle as the Australian Senate Inquiry into consultants draws to a close.
ADAM LUCAS & JAMES GUTHRIE : A Huge Australian Tax Scandal That Affects You
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has warned of a growing threat of cyber sabotage to Australian power, telecommunications, health and water infrastructure despite ransomware capturing public attention.
Keeps me up at night’: How Australia’s government sees hacker threat
Your friendly AI assistant (it’s happening)
Klarnas AI assistant, powered by @OpenAI, has in its first 4 weeks handled 2.3 m customer service chats and the data and insights are staggering: – Handles 2/3 rd of our customer service enquires – On par with humans on customer satisfaction – Higher accuracy leading to a 25% reduction in repeat inquiries – Customer resolves their errands in 2 min vs 11 min – Live 24/7 in over 23 markets, communicating in over 35 languages It performs the equivalent job of 700 full time agents…
Link here.
Why tech companies are laying off thousands of workers The Hill
Former Harvard president urges scrapping of legacy admissions Financial Times. I went to Harvard relatively early in Bok’s long tenure. There were very few legacy admits then.
It’s now significantly more deadly to be homeless. Why are so many people dying? Cal Matters
What the billionaires want 48 Hills