After the hilarious fallout from the Finance Department’s woeful recruitment ad, Crikey has obtained* three other draft scripts for promotional ads for the departments of Immigration, Human Services and the Environment.
IMMIGRATION: JOIN THE PARTY
OPEN in a pleasant and airy open-plan office, filled with relaxed happy workers. Enter STEVE, a fulfilled and enthusiastic public servant. He approaches BARBARA, who loves her job and the people she works with.
STEVE
Hi Barbara. Are you coming to lunch with the rest of us at the cafe conveniently located right near our office?
BARBARA
Oh hi Steve, I didn’t see you there, as I was just finishing collating these files that keep our borders secure.
STEVE
Yep, that’s one of the best parts of this job, all right. But I think the best part of working at Immigration is the friends you make along the way.
The camera follows Steve and Barbara as they walk to the lifts, passing a series of extremely professional workers who are also enjoying themselves. At the lifts they run into ALEX, a Border Force operative in full uniform.
BARBARA
Hi Alex, looking forward to the big raid?
ALEX
Sure am, Barbara! That’s what I love about Immigration: management gives you so much support and really makes the raid process fun as well as efficient.
STEVE
Are you coming to lunch, Alex?
ALEX
I can’t right now, Steve; I’m on my way to the Synergy Optimisation Seminar to learn how to hit key performance indicators while achieving an ideal work-life balance.
BARBARA
I think it’s great how we get so many chances for professional development. It’s amazing how personal satisfaction and saving lives at sea go hand in hand.
STEVE and ALEX
Yeah!
They all high-five. Alex reloads his Uzi.
***
THE DHS: HUMANS HELPING HUMANS
OPEN in a hygienic well-stocked break room. CATHY, HARVEY and LISA are drinking Fair Trade coffee and smiling cheerfully at each other.
CATHY
I think the best thing about working at the DHS is getting to help others.
HARVEY
I think the best thing about working at the DHS is the myriad pathways to advancement.
LISA
I think the best thing about working at the DHS is the relaxed atmosphere and flexible management structure that encourages us to have fun while never sacrificing our high standards of professionalism.
Enter Minister ALAN TUDGE
ALAN TUDGE
Hi guys! How’s it going down here in the “engine room”?
HARVEY
Haha, great air quotes Alan. We’re just grabbing a quick coffee before getting back to pursuing debts.
CATHY
In order, as you know, to save the Australian taxpayer money.
ALAN TUDGE
That’s right, Cathy, that’s the main game here at the DHS. But don’t rush over your coffees; in my department, it’s all about feeling comfortable!
LISA
Wow, I’ve been working here three years and I still never cease to be amazed by how approachable you are, Alan.
ALAN TUDGE
Call me Alan.
Everyone laughs and gives a thumbs-up to the camera.
***
ENVIRONMENT: IT’S IN YOUR NATURE
OPEN in the Environment Department, a well-lit office set in a lush green forest. As healthy woodland creatures scurry by, enter LUKE and CHERYL.
LUKE
The training program here at the Department of the Environment blows me away with how easy yet challenging it is.
CHERYL
Tell me about it, Luke! I finished my training six months ago, and every single day I marvel at how well-equipped I am for the demands of my job, which is keeping all the Environment files in alphabetical order so that the Environment is never degraded for want of workspace organisation.
LUKE
Yeah, we did the alphabet yesterday, and I never knew it could be so stimulating. Today we’re going to learn about coal.
CHERYL
I remember the coal module. Best eight weeks of my life. Enjoy it while you can, Luke; soon you’ll be an old fogey slaving away like me!
They laugh.
CHERYL
I’m joking, of course; it hardly even counts as work, when you love what you do, does it?
LUKE
That’s right, and who doesn’t love the Environment?
CHERYL
I know I do — it’s my favourite. We’re just so lucky that we get to protect it every day.
They share a brief hug. Two baby wallabies leap into their arms. They laugh.
*As discovered by satirist Ben Pobjie
Very good.
Attorney-General’s?
Open :- Alice walking through a glade, comes upon George Brandis’ head on top of a wall …..
“Mmmm that reminds me how hungry I am. I feel like a soft-boiled egg with soldiers.”
“Imagine how I feel” says Numpty Dumpme.
“I don’t recall ever hearing an egg speak” said Alice in shock at hearing an egg speak.
“Careful; that’s my line” snapped Numpty.
“But you must hear eggs speak all the time, in your sort of family” offered Alice trying not to offend his highness.
“No I mean ‘I don’t recall'”, waffled Numpty.
“How can you mean something you don’t recall?” Alice asks quite legitimately.
“Are you after my job?” Numpty shot back.
“Oh dear. I can see we’re not going to see eye to eye” said Alice almost to herself.
“When I use a word,” Numpty Dumpme said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” says Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“I’m Numpty Dumpme. The question is,” says Numpty, “which is to be master — that’s all.”
“….. Is that a Bell tolling?” asks Alice.
“Get me out of here!” shrieks Numpty.
..crack, hisssss, and all the rest was slurping.
Wonderful- I hope someone makes it
And the DHS ad – is Tudge taking or giving a leak while he’s reciting these lines?