Robert Gottliebsen recently suggested public servants had the power to significantly improve national productivity if they so desire. Anyone who wants to improve public sector productivity needs to find better politicians first.
July, 2011
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Floundering in darkness on the carbon tax
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: US markets up again, Europe to meet on Greece
The eurozone’s largest banks met to discuss ways they could contribute to a new bilout package for Greece.
Daily Proposition: Visit the Egyptian boy king’s crib
For a 19-year-old who died of unknown causes thousands of years ago, Tutankhamun sure is good at working a crowd. More than 7 million visitors saw the exhibition that bears his name on its US and European tour.
Media briefs: ABC cuts Monckton … Murdoch backs Brooks …
ABC Local Radio presenter Adam Spencer hung up on Christopher Monckton on air this morning. Plus the Walkleys move north, without Crikey, and other media news of the day.
Political snippets: A further sign of slow growth
More evidence from the Australian Bureau of Statistics this morning that economic growth is less than the Treasury and Reserve Bank experts had expected.
Video of the Day: Labour MP calls for Rebekah Brooks’ head
In a fiery speech delivered in the House of Commons, Labour MP Chris Bryant called for News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks to resign over the phone hacking scandal if she has “a shred of decency”.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
‘Alarming’ standards of voc training. Does government have a training problem on its hands? One vocational education and training sector consultant writes: “I’m increasingly alarmed by the low standards of training within the sector, particularly for workplace-based training, including cases of faked recognition for prior learning, very low training hours and work requirements, and ignoring […]
Crikey Says: Crikey says: one out of the box
James Murdoch: “It shows what we were able to do is really put this problem in a box.”
With 3D on the decline, here comes another dimension
Cinema audiences are beginning to avoid seeing 3D movies and shelling out the required surcharge. Instead of focusing on making 2D flicks better, Hollywood may start embracing 4D wizbangery, writes Mina Hochberg.
Diary of a wino: computer shopping, moving office and coughing up $$$ for the poor
When Michael Vaughn accidentally fed his computer a splash of Chardonnay, it was time for a spot of computer shopping. Vaughn reflects on buying new warez, dealing with the poor, moving office and more.
NSW gravy trains and the political donations dilemma
Restrictions on political donations rarely change, because they generally benefit the opposition. But NSW Labor, headed for defeat, altered the rules and Premier Barry O’Farrell is now being accused of dragging his feet, writes Mr Tiedt.
StumbleUpon the biggest social media traffic driver to US websites
Web ‘discovery engine’ StumbleUpon, which was sold to eBay for US$75 million in 2007, has overtaken Facebook as the biggest social media traffic driver to US websites, reports Colleen Taylor.
In defence of News of the World: they’re not all dodgy
There’s no doubt the News of the World phone hacking scandal marks a disgraceful period for tabloid journalism. But let’s not forget the good things tabloids achieve, particularly in exposing wrongdoing, writes Michael White.
Export ban lifted; too soon say welfare groups
Crikey media wrap: Agriculture minister Joe Ludwig last night lifted month-long ban on live export of cattle to Indonesia, announcing a “progressive” examination of the industry.
travel 
Behind a door in Krakow, discover a Art-Nouveau fantasy world
Back in a Bit regular Jean McBain discovered an assuming church in Krakow, Poland, where behind a brick exterior lies intricate wall paintings and stained-glass windows.
Is Neil Young’s Harvest a classic album?
This month’s instalment of earworm’s Classic Album? series analyses Neil Young’s Harvest, a strange beast that fluctuates from the sublime to the ridiculous, writes Neil Walker.
healthcare What is the point of health and medical research?
Is the point of health and medical research to keep researchers in jobs? To boost the economy? To add to the global store of knowledge or maybe, just maybe, for ‘the greater good?’ writes Melissa Sweet.
Tiger Airways deemed too dangerous to fly for at least another month
While CASA’s application to extend its grounding of Tiger Airways to at least August 1 means it regards the airline as a continuing unacceptable risk to public safety, will its owners find continuing with the venture an unacceptable cost?
The burqa has become an unnecessary symbol of fear
“Veiled women” have long been represented as either helpless victims in need of rescue or as dangerous agents of an alien ideology in need of discipline.
Your survival guide to the carbon price apocalypse
With rentseekers roaming the political landscape seeking their pound of flesh, there’s a few handy survival tips for assessing a carbon pricing scheme.
Strauss-Kahn edges closer to a comeback
Some New York media are claiming that those prosecuting the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn are ready to drop all charges. Whilst this might be good news for DSK it will only further confuse the race for French Socialist Candidate.
