Anyone know what's on next period?   Bill Shorten must, that's when he's considering this Review into compo.

You've no doubt seen the media reports about the Compo Review conducted for Minister Bill Shorten.   

Here's a couple of paragraphs from The Age's "Exclusive" report today

The review, ordered in 2012 by Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, cited a case of taxpayers paying nearly $30,000 for massage therapy that had "no curative effect" and another of a Brisbane-based bureaucrat flown to a Buddhist meditation retreat in Alice Springs to treat his anxiety disorder.

In other cases that have made recent headlines - not mentioned in the review - a Commonwealth public servant was compensated, after a court appeal, for injuries sustained during a "vigorous" sex session in a motel room on a work trip.

And an underperforming Canberra public servant was compensated after she claimed one-on-one counselling sessions constituted bullying.

The reports do not call for cuts to benefits for injured workers but urge a shift from a payout-oriented insurance scheme to one that emphasises rehabilitation and a return to work.

Those instances of crazy compo are highlighted in the report

And there are plenty of other examples of decisions that should have had people sacked, rather than prompting an expensive review.

But what concerns me is press reporting like this from Noel Towel from The Age who had the Exclusive tag today - he makes this observation about the review:

The reports do not call for cuts to benefits for injured workers but urge a shift from a payout-oriented insurance scheme to one that emphasises rehabilitation and a return to work.

That now gets reported as if the reviewers made that finding.   But that is not so.   The Minister directed that outcome.   Here is the sentence in the Terms of Reference:

and here is Peter Hanks QC's acknowledgement of the direction given him in the Minister's Terms of Reference

Finally, Bill Shorten releases this on Saturday, 30 March 2013.   Easter Saturday.   He has had the report since 22 February, 2013

And here now is the best that Bill Shorten, with all his staff, can come up with by way of response more than a month after he's had the report:

"Workplace injuries can take a terrible toll on workers and their families, and can cause a loss of productivity and morale in a workplace,” Mr Shorten said.

“The Gillard Government is determined to create a best practice workers compensation scheme in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

“It is vital that the Comcare Scheme is focused on early and effective intervention to promote recovery of injured workers.

“It is also critical that employers and Comcare are proactive in supporting injured workers from the point of injury, during rehabilitation and when they return to work.”

“The report provides a range of ideas on ways to improve the operation of the Comcare Scheme while ensuring benefits remain fair and equitable for injured workers, especially those more seriously injured and incapacitated,” Mr Shorten said.

“I want to thank Dr Hawke and Mr Hanks for their work and everyone else who contributed to the review.

“Over the next period, I will be consulting with scheme stakeholders on the recommendations. These consultations will help inform our response to the Review to build a strong and effective rehabilitation and compensation system for workers in the Comcare Scheme.”

Download Src_act_review_report

Sales Manager Jason Clare is responsible for the field client acquisition teams who are the final interface for our foreign client sales programs.

Jason's been very busy with sales teams really stretched, trying to keep up with the popularity of marketing's really innovative new products.

Here's Jason's Sales Report for the Quarter - with one day to go who knows how many he might end up with!   Congratulations on a busy 90 days Jason!

First Quarter 2013

 30 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel 
HMAS Maitland, operating in support of the Australian Maritime Search and Rescue Authority, has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance east of Christmas Island Wednesday afternoon.

30 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Albany, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel east of Ashmore Islands on Thursday night.

28 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessels 
ACV Ocean Protector operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north-east of Christmas Island overnight.

28 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel 
ACV Ocean Protector operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance 2.5 nautical miles north of Christmas Island this morning.

27 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Pirie, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel south west of Darwin today.

26 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel 
ACV Ocean Protector and HMAS Maitland, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, have rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north of Christmas Island overnight.

26 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel

HMAS Bundaberg and HMAS Ballarat, operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia), assisted a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north-north-west of Christmas Island yesterday.

25 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessels
HMAS Bundaberg, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-north-east of Christmas Island yesterday.

25 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel

HMAS Ballarat, operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Christmas Island on Saturday.

24 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
ACV Dame Roma Mitchell, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel east of Ashmore Islands yesterday.

24 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Pirie, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-north-west of Darwin yesterday.

24 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Broome, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-west of Ashmore Islands on Friday.

22 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Bundaberg, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Christmas Island this morning.

20 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

HMAS Pirie, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel west-north-west of Darwin overnight.

20 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Ballarat, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-west of Christmas Island last night.

19 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

ACV Triton, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-west of Cocos (Keeling) Islands overnight.

19 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Broome, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-north-east of Ashmore Islands yesterday.

19 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Bundaberg, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-east of Christmas Island yesterday.

18 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Broome, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Ashmore Islands yesterday.

15 March 2013 - First Cape Class Patrol Boat officially named Cape St George

The Special Minister of State Gary Gray AO MP today represented the Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare MP at the naming ceremony of Cape St George, the newest addition to Customs and Border Protection’s marine fleet.

15 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel
HMAS Ballarat operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north of Christmas Island overnight.

15 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Ballarat, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Christmas Island yesterday.

14 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Bundaberg, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel in the vicinity of Christmas Island today.

14 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel

HMAS Ballarat operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north east of Christmas Island yesterday morning.

14 March 2013 - Australian authorities assist vessel
HMAS Childers, operating under the coordination of Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia), has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel north-west of Ashmore Islands last night.

12 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel
HMAS Ballarat operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north of Christmas Island on Sunday evening.

12 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Ararat, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-east of Christmas Island today.

10 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Ballarat, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-west of Christmas Island yesterday.

9 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel 
ACV Ocean Protector, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north-west of Tiwi Island this morning.

8 March 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Ballarat, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, detected and intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north west of Christmas Island on Wednesday night.

5 March 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel
ACV Botany Bay operating under the control of Border Protection Command has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance south-east of Ashmore Islands yesterday morning.

28 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

HMAS Launceston, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-north-west of Darwin this morning.

25 February 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel

HMAS Maitland, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, rendered assistance to a vessel north-east of Ashmore Islands on Saturday night.

21 February 2013 - Australian authorities assist vessel

HMAS Glenelg, operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia), has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north-east of Christmas Island overnight.

21 February 2013 - Australian authorities assist vessel
HMAS Parramatta, operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia), rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north of Christmas Island yesterday.

18 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

HMAS Parramatta, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-east of Christmas Island on Friday. Earlier HMAS Albany had responded to a request for assistance that was believed to have been sent from the vessel.

18 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessels
HMAS Pirie, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-north-east of Ashmore Islands on Saturday evening.

17 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Albany, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-east of Christmas Island on Friday night.

15 February 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel
HMAS Pirie operating under the control of Border Protection Command has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north-west of Browse Island overnight.

14 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

HMAS Albany, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, detected and intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Christmas Island on Tuesday night

14 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Albany, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, detected and intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Christmas Island on Tuesday night.

11 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

ACV Ocean Protector, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-north-east of Ashmore Islands yesterday.

9 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

ACV Storm Bay, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel south-west of Scott Reef last night.

7 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

HMAS Maryborough, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north-east of Christmas Island yesterday afternoon

3 February 2013 - Border Protection Command assists vessel

HMAS Maryborough, operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia), has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north west of Christmas Island today.

2 February 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Bathurst, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north east of Christmas Island overnight.

30 January 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel

HMAS Pirie, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north east of Ashmore Islands yesterday.

26 January 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Leeuwin, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, detected and intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel east of Christmas Island today.

26 January 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Larrakia, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Christmas Island yesterday.

25 January 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
ACV Ocean Protector, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, has intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel east-south-east of Ashmore Islands overnight.

24 January 2013 - Border Protection Command transfers asylum seekers
ACV Ocean Protector, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, has worked with Oil and Gas Installation (OGI) support vessel Offshore Quest, approximately 92 nautical miles east-south-east of Ashmore Islands, to transfer eleven suspected asylum seekers into Australian Government custody.

21 January 2013 - Border Protection Command intercepts vessel
HMAS Leeuwin, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel east of Christmas Island overnight.

16 January 2013 - New Customs and Border Protection patrol boat launched
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today welcomed the launch of Australia's first Cape Class patrol boat.

These two note from our Sales Manager Jason Clare came in today.

UNCLASSIFIED 

UNCLASSIFIED

It's a long interview - well worth it if you care about the $50 billion being spent on the NBN and if you worry about the competence of the people spending it.   The interview took place on 6 April, 2011.

This interview really focussed on Mike Quigley and his team at the NBN.   Fundamentally I was concerned then at Quigley's abilities and experience in actually building the network.   He'd just lost the senior executive responsible for construction.

Secondly the horrible issues of Alcatel's systematic bribery programs around the world were front of mind for me - and Quigley's role alongside his CFO at Alcatel Jean Pascal Beaufret.   In this interview on 6 April, 2011, Senator Conroy comes to Quigley's defence saying that Quigley was never responsible for the South American countries in which bribery allegations were proven.   That was wrong as Quigley admitted when he gave sworn evidence to the Senate Estimates enquiry a month later.

I got it wrong, Michael Quigley tells MPs

In 2009, when Mr Quigley was appointed to the $1.8 million-a-year job of running Australia's biggest infrastructure project, the federal government was unaware that Alcatel was then the subject of a five-year US government investigation.

After this fact was revealed by The Australian late last month, Mr Quigley wrote in an opinion piece that he had not told the government of the corruption investigation at Alcatel because the investigation had been resolved and was "ancient history".

At the first public hearing of the joint parliamentary committee into the $36 billion NBN yesterday, chaired by independent Rob Oakeshott, Mr Quigley admitted his claims about the investigation were incorrect - after he was presented with publicly available Alcatel documents that disproved them.

Other MPs to question Mr Quigley included opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull.

In a written statement, presented outside the committee hearing, Mr Oakeshott praised The Australian's coverage of Mr Quigley's past at Alcatel. "I think on this particular occasion they (The Australian) have done some good work in the public interest, and this has been backed up by the NBN committee evidence today," he wrote.

The investigation into Alcatel by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Department of Justice continued until last December. The US government and Alcatel reached an agreement, under which the telco is required to pay fines of $US137m ($130m), but it is yet to be approved by a US court.

Separately, in an opening statement to the committee, Mr Quigley "unreservedly apologised" for incorrectly stating publicly that during his time at Alcatel, he was not responsible for overseeing operations in Costa Rica. Mr Quigley reiterated he was never investigated by the SEC and the US Justice Department. Further, he said Alcatel had in December announced he was not involved in, nor had any knowledge of, the corruption at Alcatel. There is no suggestion Mr Quigley was involved in the corruption.

The Australian last week revealed that Mr Quigley was head of Alcatel Americas, which covered both North, Central and South America, from March 2001 to January 2003.

Alcatel's global corrupt dealings, including bribing government officials in exchange for lucrative contracts, were first exposed in Costa Rica. Alcatel employees paid more than $7 million in bribes to corrupt officials in the Central American country in return for hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts.

you can read all of Anthony Klan's story at The Australian