Smith loses battle against acronyms
Thursday, December 09, 2010 » 06:35pm
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has lost a battle to ban acronyms in documents his department presented to him.
But in a department heavy on acronyms like JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) and SOTG (Special Operations Task Group), Mr Smith eventually gave in.
Freedom of Information documents obtained by AAP show the acronym ban was a 'key issue' for the new minister.
'The first is that all submissions must not contain any acronyms at all,' one email from the director of the defence Ministerial and Parliamentary Liaison Services on September 28 shows. 'Any submissions that use acronyms will be returned.'
Another document says: 'The minister has asked for acronyms to be spelt out in his briefs.'
Later on the same day Mr Smith gave some ground.
He asked for a list of 'acronyms that are in common use' that would be allowed in documents.
But it wasn't enough for some in the department.
Eventually Mr Smith's office changed its 'zero-tolerance rule'.
'The office of the minister for defence have advised that acronyms may now be used in advice to the minister,' a final email on October 20 said.
Thursday, December 09, 2010 » 06:35pm
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has lost a battle to ban acronyms in documents his department presented to him.
But in a department heavy on acronyms like JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) and SOTG (Special Operations Task Group), Mr Smith eventually gave in.
Freedom of Information documents obtained by AAP show the acronym ban was a 'key issue' for the new minister.
'The first is that all submissions must not contain any acronyms at all,' one email from the director of the defence Ministerial and Parliamentary Liaison Services on September 28 shows. 'Any submissions that use acronyms will be returned.'
Another document says: 'The minister has asked for acronyms to be spelt out in his briefs.'
Later on the same day Mr Smith gave some ground.
He asked for a list of 'acronyms that are in common use' that would be allowed in documents.
But it wasn't enough for some in the department.
Eventually Mr Smith's office changed its 'zero-tolerance rule'.
'The office of the minister for defence have advised that acronyms may now be used in advice to the minister,' a final email on October 20 said.