Should one laugh or cry when Mark Scott introduces a letter to staff by saying he “held a meeting with 200 senior leaders, managers and some key people across the ABC”. Two hundred people no less.

It would seem the key problem across the ABC — too many managers — has not been addressed at all. Management just keeps growing while at the same time the ABC is trying to use more independent contractors to minimise costs. Ah, but then you need people to manage them, etc.

But at the same time Maurice Newman says the ABC is almost a perfect model for a Harvard Business Study to examine how to “get more results from fewer resources”. Bring it on please. A thorough analysis from a third-party steeped in broadcasting is long overdue. Use the budgets from Sleuth 101 and Bed of Roses to help pay for it.

The Liberal-National Party’s federal preselection for the outer-Brisbane seat of Longman is on tonight. The inside mail has former Caboolture Shire councillor and current mine worker Peter Flannery tipped to get the nod from the Nationals-dominated Federal Electorate Council.

Flannery is up against former bank manager and local businessman Steve Attrill. Despite Attrill being a Liberal, some inside the party have asserted that his aggressive style has less appeal than a vampire inside a blood bank.

One can only imagine the glee with which under-performing ALP member John Sullivan views such a wet-paper-bag set of candidates.

Cootamundra Shire Council is attempting to garner public support for a $10 million upgrade of infrastructure. A loan of $10 million is required and rates are to be increased to fund the loan repayments.

The first current public consultation meeting was rather heated as the increase sought was 8% cumulative for five years. This equates to 46.9% at the end of five years, and a perennial higher rate base.

Council emphasised there was a rate calculator for this purpose on their web site.  However, the site calculator only caters for a 5% increase. So ratepayer confusion reigns supreme.

ANZ CEO Mike Smith was seen getting into his ANZ company car with the help of his ANZ chauffeur (who had his ANZ identification around his neck) at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday afternoon after arriving from Canberra. No Holden or Ford for jolly old Mike, but a beautiful British Jaguar as his chauffeured car of choice.

That must really endear Lord Mike to ANZ staff and shareholders. It seems you can take the man out of Britain but you can’t take Britain out of the man.

As the Principals Australia morass sinks ever deeper, chairman Neville Lyngcoln’s role is coming under greater scrutiny. Also interesting is that Neville himself is no longer a principal after decamping from his role at Melbourne’s Yarra Valley Grammar last year.

It was probably timely given the less-than-average performance of the school in the recent My School ratings. Parents have noted the school’s below-par performance when compared with its nearest rival — Tintern Schools.

On the whole Bambang “crapachino” thing, I brought civet cat poo luwak coffee into Australia from Vietnam without any worries. Heaps of the stuff. It’s amazing! I don’t know why anyone would drink coffee that hadn’t been shat out by a civet cat when given the choice. Seriously, I won’t go back.