Stefanic kicking in staycation mode as unexplained leave rolls on
The end of the school year might be tantalisingly close, but for the wordsmiths at the APS, every day is a school day.
Public Eye assumes there was widespread delight throughout the Canberra offices of departments and agencies when Assistant Minister for the Public Service Patrick Gorman released the seventh edition of the Australian Government Style Manualon Monday.
The first edition was apparently launched by former PM Harold Holt in 1966, just showing how much standards have slipped that the launch of this edition was delegated to the outer ministry, no offence to Mr Gorman.
But we applaud Mr Gorman for taking on the responsibility for overseeing the APS's style guide, with the media release informing all and sundry that "writing with clarity, purpose, and consistency is crucial for creating content that informs, educates, and engages all citizens".
We couldn't agree more.
Asssitant Minister for the Public Service Patrick Gorman launched the seventh edition of the APS style manual. Graphic by ACM
So, we cracked the (digital) spine of the 72-page document to see how the manual would elucidate the at times opaque nature of the APS and its penchant for superfluous acronyms.
Starting off strong, rule number one clarified the difference between "it's" and "its". A common pitfall, the guide helpfully offered a simple trick.
"If you don't mean 'it is', write 'its'."
Solved.
But over the page we were a little bit more concerned about a recommendation to "write what you know (just not all of it)". The following paragraphs explain information must be accurate (tick) and to rely on experts and trustworthy sources (tick).
But then the guide notes "you often know far more about a topic than your reader needs to know". Hmm.
"Resist the temptation to tell them every interesting thing you know about a topic."
Having received frustrating one-line responses to a list of detailed questions, we think we're not alone in thinking it wouldn't hurt if, every now and then, the APS gave in to that temptation.
Right to Disconnect enters the zeitgeist
While we're on the topic of language, the Macquarie Dictionary has given a nod to "Right to Disconnect" as a runner-up to the prestigious word of the year award.
A favoured topic among public servants, with the guide on the topic from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations even making it into a heated exchange during Senate estimates, the compilers of the definitive tome of the Australian language recognised the fight for the hard-won right which will no doubt make many bureaucrats' lives over the summer better, without messages or calls from an overbearing ELT.
The dictionary also accepted the acronym RTD.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt was thrilled and took one for the team in recognising the win on behalf of the Albanese government.
"As the festive season approaches, our government is doing everything we can to look after workers and making sure Australians can relax outside of work," he said.
"We've had really positive feedback from employees and employers alike, who recognise that regular unpaid overtime shouldn't be the norm."
Also entering the lexicon was this year's winner "enshittification" - to refer to the gradual deterioration of a service or product and "rawdogging" - the act of taking a long-haul flight with no entertainment.
Urban Dictionary has a different definition of the latter term.
Rob Stefanic slips into summer mode
Speaking of the right to disconnect, one former secretary is enjoying being disconnected from his work during unexplained paid leave.
Clad in sandals, shorts and a polo T-shirt for a solo lunch of what looked to be a bowl of pho at Noi Noi Vietnamese Kitchen in the Eyre Street Market precinct in Kingston, former Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Rob Stefanic had the look of someone on an early summer break.
Mr Stefanic emailed DPS staff on October 9 to advise he was taking "a period of leave", effective immediately, and acting secretary Jaala Hinchcliffeconfirmed in estimates that Mr Stefanic would continue to receive his almost half-a-million-dollar salary. On Public Eye's back-of-the-envelope estimates, he has now clocked up $71,204.41 for his 53 days of unexplained leave.
With so much time on his hands and the equivalent of an APS 2 salary sloshing around, perhaps Mr Stefanic could take up a hobby during the warmer months?
A quick google reveals that $70,000 is enough to snap up a secondhand light airplane for a fresh perspective on the capital.
Alternatively, a top-of-the-range jet ski can be bought for a similar amount. Mr Stefanic wouldn't be the first middle-aged man who, after having his career and life upended, turns to the remedial effects of high-powered watercraft.
Deck the halls
Silly season is here, and no we're not talking about the dozens of bills the Albanese government rammed through on the last day of Parliament for 2024 (and perhaps this term).
It's that time of year when journalists and politicians pretend to occupy a normal workplace where you can share a drink with colleagues and reminisce on the year that was.
The Greens kicked off festivities on Monday, and in the midst of a heatwave, they seemed to pick the Canberra venue with the least effective air-conditioning.
Perhaps it was a threat to any journalist still unclear about the effects of the coming climate catastrophe.
On Tuesday, outgoing chief scientist Dr Cathy Foleygave one last speech at the Tech Council drinks.
Foley was warmly received by the room, with shouts of "Don't go" heard from the crowd. There was chatter about who Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic might pick to replace her, with some suggesting it wouldn't be a bad thing if a woman continued to hold the role, given Australia's dismal rates of women in STEM.
On Thursday, it was over to the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to host his members of the press gallery for Christmas drinks in the Coalition party room. Mr Dutton made a valiant effort to work the room, entertaining the assembled journalists alone.
Wrapping up the week was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who invited scribblers to The Lodge on Friday, with the invitation making clear the gathering was "strictly off the record".
Never one to burn a source, we think we'll leave it at that.
- with Dana Daniel
