In an article titled “Memo to Hockey: what’s really wrong with the Tax Office” on Thursday, 23 May 2013, Chris raises some interesting issues about how the ATO deals with taxpayers. It can be found at the following link:

http://www.smartcompany.com.au/tax/055692-memo-to-hockey-what-s-really-wrong-with-the-tax-office.html

As I have mentioned…

Colleagues and friends who have known me for a long time know that I do not like backwards looking and abusive practices. And I certainly detest management and organisational practices that cause harm. It's also very obvious from my various posts and talks at the odd conference or two.

Personally, I'm certainly not anti-trade union. However, I do have concerns about the Community and Public Sector Union. This is due to the fact that over the years people have often said to me…

JA James made the following pertinent and very valid comment on my previous post:

In the employment law context, the courts can be a bit of a lottery... there are a number of variables including the type of judge you get, the quality of legal representation you can afford, the quality of legal representation on the other side, and how everyone performs on the day. It's a gamble the Commonwealth can afford to take with its deep pockets and limited individual consequences of a loss,…

At the outset I want to make it clear that I am not a member of any political party.

In his address to the National Press Club Joe Hockey stated that,

We all have to pay our fair share of tax. But the relationship with the ATO does not have to be adversarial and should be based on mutual respect.

One measure that will help…

On April 29 APS Dignity announced that APSbullying.com is Changing Hands. I have been quietly working away on taking over the site to ensure that the excellent work that has been done continues and stays, as it were, on the public record.

The mud map is this:

Transfer the news items currently on APSbullying.com to OZloop. You will see an additional tab on OZloop…

June recently raised the following questions in relation to OZloop.

This isn't a criticism, but a legitimate question. Is this site becoming too dramatic, theoretical and obscure, losing its focus?

I just wonder if we ought to be more reliant upon real world examples of what is occurring in the Australian Public Service. I honestly believe we will lose our…

When I was writing APSbullying.com, one of my favourite authors who wrote on the topic of workplace bullying was Professor David Yamada of Suffolk University Law School. Unlike many other authors in this field, he not only understood the psychological and social dynamics of workplace mistreatment, he also understood the intricacies of the law and the significant shortcomings of the law. On his…

I posted this on my new Blog apsemployment.weebly.com but as it pays tribute to Ozloop, I am copying it here.

Steve Davies of Ozloop has posted a brilliant article on the barbaric practice of  compulsory psychiatric assessments of employees.  It was followed with a…

Click to Sign Petition Please…

Here we go again. The Australian Public Service Commission using the Canberra Times to discourage online discussion concerning public administration. Surely the Canberra Times should look at these issues in-depth and not simply report social media pests to face sack in new public service code.

I'm not sure what's worse. The…

I recently attended a psychiatric assessment with an Australian Public Service employee. The purpose of the assessment was to determine the employee's capability to undertake a rehabilitation programme. I have prepared a paper outlining events leading up to the assessment and my observations and interactions when attending with the employee.

As you will see from the paper, what is striking is the power that can be exercised by psychiatrists and case officers to set the frame…

The new element is Governmentium (Gv). It has one neutron, 25 assistant SES neutrons, 88 deputy SES neutrons and 198 assistant deputy HR neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lefton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons or protons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction…

CSIRO hired the services of an independent investigator to produce a 60 page report investigating and trying to prove that Mr. Hoffman stopped at a McDonald's Drive-Thru service for under 3 minutes and that he didn't actually stop to use the toilet.…

Here on Ozloop we are very familiar with the relationship between the risk averse nature of Australian Public Service agencies and the lengths many, including the Australian Public Service Commission, will go to to discourage and undermine online discussion and disclosures.

The climate of fear, uncertainty and doubt created by Australian Public Service's social media guidelines is well known. The ugly manifestation of this culture is, as we know well, systemic bullying and…

Dear CEO of Comcare

I have some concerns as to the quality of the advice you may be receiving. I felt misgivings when I read that you are appealing the PVYW case. I am at a loss as to how that is going to help you achieve your goals.

Perhaps your advisers haven’t explained that to create a precedent, you need to choose a case that typifies the issue you want to resolve. Lawyers like to rely on precedents that have similar facts to the case they are litigating.

Now if…

As the title states, Comcare has been granted the coveted Special Leave in the High Court of Australia for the following case: http://Comcare v PVYW [2012] FCAFC 181. You may recall that this case received substantial publicity because of the rather salacious way it was portrayed: the woman suffered injury from sexual activity in her hotel room whilst on a work trip.

The transcript is not yet…

CSIRO hired the services of an independent investigator to produce a 60 page report investigating and trying to prove that a staff member stopped at a McDonalds Drive-Thru service for 3 minutes and that he didn't actually stop to pee.…

I'm pretty sure the APS has something to learn - from everything I've read here, it's not accountable, it's internally focussed  rather than outwardly, concerned about protecting reputation more than making a difference, not at all concerned about citizen engagement (and in that regard I'm still cogitating about that amazing  post that Serene posted about the DSTO a while ago) ... the list goes on. 

But which countries are actually innovating and blazing a path for everyone…

Thanks to JA James for seeking my views on Pay the piper, and we may end public fraud.

Sounds simple. Pass legislation to incentivise whistleblowing in order to deal with and prevent fraud. At a time when governments face declining revenues such measures are, of…