Today's Word of the Day is Australia

Remember Alexander in Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?

That's what my day has been like, and after seeing this article from Bloomberg News, like Alexander, I too want to move to Australia.

Remember what happened to the Principal who ran a consulting business out of his school? MCPS called it a personnel matter and gave him a promotion so he could teach others.

Australia has it right. Bloomberg reports that one of their prime ministers resigned after letting a family member use government space for a private meeting, in violation of their ethics rules.

I am moving to Australia.

Thanks to the IECjournal for this tip.

And, as a nod to those who say this list doesn't offer enough praise, I'd like to thank Australia for getting it right. Can you share your expertise with Montgomery County Public Schools? We know they love to bring in consultants.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aPPicSOAGh0c&refer=australia#

Australian Minister Fitzgibbon Quits Over Code Breach (Update1)
By Gemma Daley

June 4 (Bloomberg) -- Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon resigned after acknowledging that he violated the government’s code of conduct by allowing his brother to use his office for a business meeting.

Fitzgibbon, 47, is the first minister to quit since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd won an election in November 2007.

“I think Joel has done a first class job as minister,” Rudd told reporters in Canberra today. “But, we take seriously the standards of ministerial accountability.”

In a letter to Rudd, Fitzgibbon said he did not live up to the code of conduct over a meeting between his brother, Mark, Humana Inc. and Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon. Mark Fitzgibbon is chief executive of NIB Holdings Ltd., an Australian health insurer.

Joel Fitzgibbon also had to correct the parliamentary record this week over accepting accommodation from his brother to watch a rugby league match in Brisbane last year.

Fitzgibbon in March apologized for not previously disclosing gifts from Chinese business woman Helen Liu to parliament, including flights to China in 2002 and 2005 and a suit that he later returned. He also said he had exchanged birthday and Christmas presents with Liu, whom he described as a family friend.

A defense department investigation found there was no security breach in the relationship with Liu.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net Last Updated: June 4, 2009 00:17 EDT

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