Victorian public service paying for advice it ignores, report finds
Victorian government departments, which spent $130 million on external consultants and contractors last year, sometimes hired them with no valid reason, failed to track their work or ignored the product or service they supplied.
State auditor-general Andrew Greaves concluded in a report released on Thursday that public servants were too often unable to demonstrate that their use of third-party contractors delivered value for money for taxpayers.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mercury
29 minutes ago
- Mercury
Couple's home becomes ‘unsellable' over one feature
A US couple's huge, two hectare property has been deemed unsellable over one major issue. In an episode of Unsellable Houses, Bob and Karolyn were considering selling their home after 30 years. Real estate experts Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb were called in to help the pair prepare their home for the market. The home situated in Washington's Snohomish County boasted sweeping views and an entertaining space, however the twin sisters were surprised by one detail in the home — carpet in the bathroom. MORE: Surprise way woman scored cottage for $19 Costly habit jeopardising your home loan Bachelorette Georgia Love's seven-figure payday The TV personalities couldn't help but laugh when they pointed out the dated green carpet extended into the bathroom. 'And the green carpet is continuous,' the siblings said in unison. 'I mean, why would you end it at the doorway? No logical reason,' Lyndsay joked. It wasn't the only problem. The experts noticed a tripping hazard with a large step between the shower and bath, also the only tiled portion of the bathroom. 'A lot of tiles around the bath, you're losing a lot of space. It makes it feel tighter than it really is,' Lyndsay said. The outdated bathroom was a major obstacle for Bob and Karolyn selling their home. The couple decided to renovate, giving Leslie and Lyndsay a $76,000 budget. The twins removed the tiled shower, ripped up the carpet. They also installed underfloor heating as a solution to Bob's fear of getting cold feet. The brand-new bathroom featured a walk-in shower, freestanding bath, a stylish bamboo ladder to hang towels from, as well as a stool, plants and bath caddy with candles. Leslie and Lyndsay revealed the bathroom's transformation which left the couple stunned. 'This is so pretty!' Karolyn said. Leslie and Lyndsay estimated the renovation made a huge difference increasing the value of the couple's home from $3.06m to $3.22m. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Packer's $100m play to live longer 'Unhinged': Shark Tank star's tactics exposed Swift's neighbours lose it over 'Taylor Tax'

AU Financial Review
5 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Victorian public service paying for advice it ignores, report finds
Victorian government departments, which spent $130 million on external consultants and contractors last year, sometimes hired them with no valid reason, failed to track their work or ignored the product or service they supplied. State auditor-general Andrew Greaves concluded in a report released on Thursday that public servants were too often unable to demonstrate that their use of third-party contractors delivered value for money for taxpayers.


7NEWS
6 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Young doctor accused of possessing more than 5000 files of child abuse material
A married young doctor has allegedly been busted in possession of more than 5000 files of child abuse material. Gregory John Couch, 37, was arrested after detectives executed a search warrant at an Albury home, on the NSW-Victorian border, at 6am on Tuesday. Police will allege Australia Border Force officers seized Couch's phone at Melbourne Airport in May this year. His phone was then referred to the State Crime Command's Sex Crime Squad, where detectives allegedly located thousands of files — both videos and photos — of child abuse material. Footage shows Strike Force detectives escorting Couch — dressed in track pants, a jacket and ugg boots — out of a home and into the back of a police vehicle. He was then taken to Albury Police Station, where he was charged with possess child abuse material, use carriage etc to access child abuse material, and intentionally import prohibited tier two goods. Police will not allege Couch offended against any of his patients. According to social media, Couch previously worked at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney before moving to the Gold Coast earlier this year. Photos posted online show him posing alongside his wife after the couple married in early 2021. can reveal Couch's late twin brother, Andrew, who passed away in his sleep in May 2017, was also a doctor. A photo posted online shows Couch, dressed in a mortarboard and graduation gown, accepting his brother's posthumously awarded Master of Medicine (Critical Care) from the University of Sydney later that year, as his parents and sister beamed beside him. University of Sydney and the Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) have since made memorial awards in Andrew's honour. Couch appeared in Albury Local Court today, where he was refused bail. He is next due to appear in court on August 19.