This week’s podcast takes on some weighty matters as David Murtagh and Genevieve Jacobs dissect the week’s events in Canberra (and we’re not talking about how you feel post-Christmas lunch).
Mike Pezzullo’s sacking from Home Affairs has been the talk of the town as the controversial department secretary was given marching orders by the Prime Minister this week.
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On the face of it, this was an easy call for Anthony Albanese, who also made sure he’d cut off any prospect of a $900,000 parachute just a few days beforehand by limiting payouts for anyone found to have breached the public service code of conduct.
But what are the consequences when the next – perhaps Labor-friendly – mandarin breaks the rules? And it’s not as if Mike Pezzullo is the only one.
Meanwhile, in the ACT, courtesy of CIT, at least one other senior figure paid by taxpayers remains sitting pretty on a salary that would make your eyes water while an investigation is pending. Surely this could have been solved sooner?
Speaking of taxpayers’ money, several more senators for the ACT is looking likely according to recommendations from a parliamentary enquiry. But what’s in it for the average ACT voter? Is there another way to improve service from senators without increasing their number?
And is the deathknell sounding for self-serve checkouts? Not because of light-fingered customers but the need for some (even fleeting) human interaction.
The Hoot appears every week on Riotact and wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify. Have a listen, tell us what you think and rate us.