In 2001, Australia's Victoria state premier Steve Bracks commissioned a $20,000 study to improve office efficiency.

Among the study's key recommendations? "The premier would be supplied with a notepad to be located by his telephone and headed Note/Request From The Premier. The premier would be requested to jot in the dates, subject and addresses, together wtih the short message, note or request as above on the pad."

["The review of the premier's offices has seen public money squandered," opposition MP David Davis declared, "on the production of a report that recommends the trivial, the obvious and the absurd."]