Public servants' gifts scrutinised

TICKETS to a Sydney Cricket Ground suite, a room at an upmarket hotel, expensive whisky, cartons of beer and theatre tickets are some of the gifts bestowed on public servants that are being scrutinised by the Auditor-General.

A report was released yesterday by Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat into the management of gifts in the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the Environment Protection Authority, Transport for NSW and the WorkCover Authority.

He said NSW government departments were failing to properly declare gifts and benefits: "None of the five entities I examined had sufficient information to demonstrate all gifts were dealt with appropriately.

"Some did not ask about the reason for the gift or the relationship between the giver and the recipient.

"Not all required conflicts of interest to be disclosed."

He also found some departments did not require public servants to declare the gifts they declined.

The Auditor-General suggested the best way to avoid inappropriate gifts being received by public servants was for agencies to keep complete records of what has been accepted and declined, along with the reasons.

He recommended the Public Service commission develop a policy for gifts to apply to all agencies and departments.

"Public servants should never solicit personal gifts or accept any payment, gift or benefit intended or likely to influence them," he said.

"Some gifts say 'Thank you' - others say 'Please'."

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Public school kids share porn sites

A public school has warned parents after one complained that their child had been sent porn sites by another child. Source: Supplied

A PUBLIC school principal has warned parents after a child accessed internet porn sites at home and shared the website addresses with fellow pupils.

Keith Turner, principal of Kendal School in Christchurch, New Zealand, was alerted to the problem last week by parents who said their child had been told and given website addresses for porn sites by another child at school.

"The parents had found out and thought they should let us know," said Mr Turner, the New Zealand Herald reported.

"They weren't accessed at school but they were told about them. I did a check of our system logs and could find no unauthorised or inappropriate use at school. It appears the children concerned were getting the site information at home and passing it on to other children to access from home."

The school sent a letter home to parents, outlining ways to monitor their children while accessing the internet at home.

Mr Turner said access to the internet at school is only allowed when a staff member is present.

"When a web address is entered it's checked by a server and then by an internet filtering company to make sure it's not on any black list of inappropriate sites. This system works well and appears to stop children being exposed to inappropriate material," he said.

Child psychologist Cherin Selim said children didn't have the ability to understand what they were viewing and early exposure to sexual material was a risk.

"All parents can do is monitor the time their children spend on the computer and have it in a communal area where they can see what is being viewed. Make sure inappropriate sites are blocked and have regular talks with children about sexual behaviour and give them realistic advice as they get older," she said.

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Police crackdown on public shootings

POLICE kept Sydney's crims under their watchful eye over the weekend during a high visibility operation aimed to put the foot down on public shootings.

In total 14 people were arrested during Operation Apollo as officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad were assisted by police from across the city as well as Strike Force Raptor targeting bikies, the Public Order and Riot Squad and the Police Dog Unit.

In excess of 150 police patrolled crime hot spots, stopped cars, visited licensed venues and did bail checks across the weekend operation.

Operation Apollo Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Mal Lanyon said the deployment was about making a presence on Sydney’s streets to drive down crime.

"This is about police being highly-visible; about stopping and speaking with people in key hotspots and putting pressure on those we suspect of criminal activity,” Detective Chief Superintendent Lanyon said.

"It was intelligence-driven, but also valuable in terms of gathering further intelligence to assist in our investigations and, of course, planning future operations.

Those arrested were charged with offences such as breach of bail, drug possession and drink driving, with a number of warnings also given for consorting while one person was arrested on a revocation of parole warrant.

A number of traffic infringements were also issued and a stolen car recovered.

 "The weekend’s activities complement the ongoing high-impact, proactive patrols being conducted by Operation Apollo, along with the intelligence and investigative strategies in place,” Detective Chief Superintendent Lanyon said.

Operation Apollo was established in February 2013 by the State Crime Command with assistance from metropolitan regions and local area commands to target gun and organised crime.

Since its inception more than 100 people have been arrested and charged with more than 220 offences with more than 60 firearms taken off the streets.

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Kids can hunt on public land: NSW premier

CHILDREN as young as 12 who have been shooting feral animals on public land for more than a decade have been doing it legally, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says.

The Games Council has issued junior hunting permits since 2002 but concerns have been raised that these permits could contravene the Firearms Act, which states children can only use a gun for the purposes of instruction.

Critics say this means minors could face potential criminal charges carrying sentences of up to five years' detention.

But Mr O'Farrell on Tuesday said he had spoken to NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher, who "has made clear there are no concerns about that".

"Police have indicated that what is happening is absolutely in line with all the regulations," the premier told reporters in Sydney.

However, Greens MP David Shoebridge said the act was clear and stated that it was unlawful for a child to use a firearm for the purpose of hunting.

"A minor's permit only entitles a child to use a firearm for the purpose of instruction in its safe use or for authorised target shooting," he said.

"Children out hunting in state forests are there for the purpose of killing animals, not for instruction.

"They are almost certainly breaking the law."

Last week, Mr O'Farrell announced the Game Council would be subjected to a full review following revelations that charges could be laid against its acting chief executive Greg McFarland.

He's been suspended over allegations of illegal hunting, trespassing and the inhumane killing of a feral goat in central NSW.

The taxpayer-funded body is assigned with overseeing the rollout of amateur hunting of feral animals in 77 national parks and reserves, which has been put on hold until a review is completed.

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Public farewell to popular newsman

Veteran journalist Peter Harvey dies after a long battle with cancer

Peter Harvey. Pictute: Channel Nine Source: Supplied

TV legend Peter Harvey will be farewelled at a public memorial this week, following a private family funeral.

Such has been the response from viewers to the passing of the newsman that Channel 9 have begun planning a memorial to showcase his exceptional career, to celebrate a wonderful character, and mourn his passing.

And in true "Harves" style, when asked recently whether it would be OK for the network to host a public memorial, he thought his favourite studio 2 would be the perfect location.

"To be frank, given the response we have had, I don't think they'll have enough room for that," Channel 9's Victoria Buchan said.

Harvey - who became a cherished, much-loved and trusted personality on the nightly news - died with his family by his bedside on Saturday.

The 68-year-old succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

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Perth public nurses poised for mass strike

NURSES at Perth's public hospitals are poised to strike if they don't get an acceptable resolution to wage talks.

The WA Industrial Relations Commissioner has directed the health department to respond at 10am (WST) on Friday to the Australian Nurses Federation's (ANF) wage claim of at least 12.75 per cent over three years.

Union members will vote at a mass meeting scheduled for 11am.

"If I have to go to a member meeting an hour later at 11 o'clock empty handed, I know that our members at that meeting will want to walk off the job today," ANF state secretary Mark Olson told Fairfax Radio.

Commissioner Pamela Scott asked the ANF to report back with the outcome of the vote at 4pm.

In addition to higher wages, the nurses want to do fewer menial tasks they say they've had to do because there are too few orderlies and cleaners.

The commissioner this week recommended lifting work bans that have closed one in five beds in many wards.

Premier Colin Barnett says no agreement can be signed during the caretaker period before the March 9 election.

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Meeting the rocks of public ridicule

The appropriately-named 'Challenge' off Cronulla Beach / Pic: Nic Gibson Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE failed efforts to refloat a grounded fishing trawler near Cronulla have been compared to a scene from MacGyver.

Maritime Union of Australia Sydney branch secretary Paul McAleer described yesterday's attempt to free the 25m vessel from rocks as "amateurish" after a Sydney Ports controller had to swim out to the boat with a knife between his teeth.

"When you have the incident controller swimming out in his budgie smugglers to attempt some MacGyver operation, it is just ridiculous," Mr McAleer said, in a reference to the US show in which a secret agent is forever getting out of tricky situations with a roll of duct tape and a Swiss Army knife.

Sydney Ports and salvage operator Polaris Marine had hoped the boat would be afloat yesterday after a 1.4m high tide, but they were unable to free it from rocks before the tide turned.

Rival Sydney Harbour salvage operator Brett Devine also slammed the operation, describing the scene at the trawler as a "circus".

"The boat is still moving on the rocks. They haven't even pinned it down to steady it," he said.

"You have to fill it with water in every compartment except the engine to weigh it down and stop it moving while you send divers down to inspect the hull."

A spokesman for Sydney Ports defended its handling of the operation and said the incident controller had waded out in full protective gear only after police divers had boarded the ship.

"The Harbour Master insisted the salvage operator use a softly-softly approach," he said.

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