[LINK] CSIRO quizzed on $9.47m web site

[Deus Ex Machina]

Craig Sanders [cas at taz.net.au] wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 18, 2005 at 08:44:20AM +1100, Deus Ex Machina wrote:
> > you will not find corporate spending $10m on a web site because there
> > is a chain of accountabilbity and not an open cheque book policy.
> 
> actually, you would. they're just as clueless as public servants.

in a well run corporate you will not get to spend money without an
appropriate business case justifying the expenditure. 

> the alleged "efficiency" of the private sector is nothing but a myth.

says a public servant.

> > the australian government must transform itself and budget outcomes
> > need to have measurable results that are measured and accounted for.
> 
> in most cases. in some cases, however, "measurable results" are not
> possible and/or the very act of measuring conflicts with the goal of
> service provision (remember govt exists to provide service, not to make
> a profit or even to break even).

its always possible to phrase outcomes in measurable means. budget outcomes
that cant be measured are meaningless, since you cant ever tell if you
have achieved it.

> > this measurability and accountability needs to difuse itself down to
> > dept and projects. this would quickly eliminate shocking waste of tax
> > payers money like this.
> 
> it would (and does!) result in shocking waste of tax-payers money by
> turning everyone into accountants.

not true, it would uncover the nonproductive pretty quickly though.

Vic