Australian Politics thread [merged]

[Francois Jackson]

Nice deficit Swan. Unbelievable

It will be the Libs who will have to clean up their mess once again

They are going to cop the mother if all hidings

Labor will lose but it is still a long way to go.

Labor will fight on the following issues:

1. Education: Labor's Gonski funding vs Abbott saying Education doesn't need extra funding

2. NBN: Labors plan vs a very weak alternative from the Libs.

The more policies the Libs announce the worse they look.

 

65 whether its a month to go or a year to go. the ALP are finished for many years to come.

You probably know more than me but it seems they will lose and lose big. Labour voters i speak with have all jumped ship, regardless of abbott.

NBN is that even an argument? Just asking because IMO its the biggest waste of money ive ever seen, second only to the desal plant, which i understand was a state thing.

Faster speeds. hehe come to my place lightning quick or go old my old mans holiday house, very quick over there.

How about my 94 year old grandma, yep NBN will do wonders for her.

i dont even think we even know the the truth about what the actual cost is on this project. One thing is for sure we will all be paying for it for many years to come.

Does your 94 year old gran use a land line?

yep damm straight. She also has 3 mobile phones as part of telco deal.

1 for local
1 for Interstate
1 for International.

[dwaino]

Well can you make sure she uses her mobiles when she calls you for your birthday so she doesn't interfere with the copper lines when we'll be paying for the fibre to the node.

[1965]

Voting for Tony will come at a cost.

Abbott, not Gillard, is the true 'class warrior'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9wlfIQ

Is Prime Minister Julia Gillard engaging in ''class warfare'' in a desperate bid to save her political skin? A recent

Galaxy poll found most middle-income earners think she is. So, that settles it, right? Well, not really.

As with most things in politics, the reality is more complicated...

...What is surprising is the extent to which Coalition policies will result in a significant redistribution of wealth upwards rather than downwards. Consider the following Coalition policies:

■ Lower the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $6000. This will drag more than one million low-income earners back into the tax system. It will also increase the taxes for 6 million Australians earning less than $80,000.

■ Abolish the low-income superannuation contribution. This will reimpose a 15 per cent tax on superannuation contributions for people earning less than $37,000.

■ Abolish the proposed 15 per cent tax on income from superannuation above $100,000 a year. The combined effect of these two superannuation changes is that 16,000 high-income earners with superannuation savings in excess of $2 million will get a tax cut while 3.6 million workers earning less than $37,000 will pay more than $4 billion extra in tax on their super over the next four years.

■ Abolish the means test on the private health insurance rebate. This will deliver a $2.4 billion tax cut over three years for individuals earning over $84,001 a year, or couples earning over $168,001. People on lower incomes will receive no benefit.

■ Introduce a paid parental leave scheme that replaces a mother's salary up to $150,000. To put it crudely, this means a low-income mum gets about $600 per week while a high-income mum gets close to $3000.

■ Abolish the means-tested Schoolkids Bonus that benefits 1.3 million families by providing up to $410 for each primary school child and up to $820 for each high school child.

These policies will result in low- and middle-income earners paying billions of dollars more in tax while those on higher incomes receive billions in tax cuts and new benefits. Rather than take from the rich and give to the poor, the Coalition policies are a case of take from the poor and give to the rich.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9avXCW

[Rampstar]

People stopped listening to Gillard years ago 65. No one cares. Even the internal Labor Polling in Victoria is showing a landslide to the opposition. Labor had a chance to save itself by ditching Gillard and they decided not too. Now they will pay the price.

[Penelope]

and so will we all when the right wing reverse robin hood policies kick in.

hopefully they go the whole hog and rid the country of money draining medicare and pbs schemes

[Gigantor]

Can we say that the traditional left/right  divide has or is quickly disappearing,to be replaced by a more personality orientation?

[Francois Jackson]

So the witch declares the Medicare levy increase will form part of her election policies for us to vote on.

Just when we thought it would be a landslide she just keeps digging her own grave further and further. Higher taxes for hardworking Australians to fund her parties wasteful spending. Good luck getting extra votes.

Labour Party are finished. With any luck they are disgraced on the same day as the EFC as they both deserve each other.

[1965]

Daniel

Do you really think Abbott will be any better.

Read below and add the fact that he is planning to do away with penalty rates.

 

Voting for Tony will come at a cost.

Abbott, not Gillard, is the true 'class warrior'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9wlfIQ

Is Prime Minister Julia Gillard engaging in ''class warfare'' in a desperate bid to save her political skin? A recent

Galaxy poll found most middle-income earners think she is. So, that settles it, right? Well, not really.

As with most things in politics, the reality is more complicated...

...What is surprising is the extent to which Coalition policies will result in a significant redistribution of wealth upwards rather than downwards. Consider the following Coalition policies:

■ Lower the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $6000. This will drag more than one million low-income earners back into the tax system. It will also increase the taxes for 6 million Australians earning less than $80,000.

■ Abolish the low-income superannuation contribution. This will reimpose a 15 per cent tax on superannuation contributions for people earning less than $37,000.

■ Abolish the proposed 15 per cent tax on income from superannuation above $100,000 a year. The combined effect of these two superannuation changes is that 16,000 high-income earners with superannuation savings in excess of $2 million will get a tax cut while 3.6 million workers earning less than $37,000 will pay more than $4 billion extra in tax on their super over the next four years.

■ Abolish the means test on the private health insurance rebate. This will deliver a $2.4 billion tax cut over three years for individuals earning over $84,001 a year, or couples earning over $168,001. People on lower incomes will receive no benefit.

■ Introduce a paid parental leave scheme that replaces a mother's salary up to $150,000. To put it crudely, this means a low-income mum gets about $600 per week while a high-income mum gets close to $3000.

■ Abolish the means-tested Schoolkids Bonus that benefits 1.3 million families by providing up to $410 for each primary school child and up to $820 for each high school child.

These policies will result in low- and middle-income earners paying billions of dollars more in tax while those on higher incomes receive billions in tax cuts and new benefits. Rather than take from the rich and give to the poor, the Coalition policies are a case of take from the poor and give to the rich.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9avXCW

[Francois Jackson]

Daniel

Do you really think Abbott will be any better.

Read below and add the fact that he is planning to do away with penalty rates.

 

Voting for Tony will come at a cost.

Abbott, not Gillard, is the true 'class warrior'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9wlfIQ

Is Prime Minister Julia Gillard engaging in ''class warfare'' in a desperate bid to save her political skin? A recent

Galaxy poll found most middle-income earners think she is. So, that settles it, right? Well, not really.

As with most things in politics, the reality is more complicated...

...What is surprising is the extent to which Coalition policies will result in a significant redistribution of wealth upwards rather than downwards. Consider the following Coalition policies:

■ Lower the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $6000. This will drag more than one million low-income earners back into the tax system. It will also increase the taxes for 6 million Australians earning less than $80,000.

■ Abolish the low-income superannuation contribution. This will reimpose a 15 per cent tax on superannuation contributions for people earning less than $37,000.

■ Abolish the proposed 15 per cent tax on income from superannuation above $100,000 a year. The combined effect of these two superannuation changes is that 16,000 high-income earners with superannuation savings in excess of $2 million will get a tax cut while 3.6 million workers earning less than $37,000 will pay more than $4 billion extra in tax on their super over the next four years.

■ Abolish the means test on the private health insurance rebate. This will deliver a $2.4 billion tax cut over three years for individuals earning over $84,001 a year, or couples earning over $168,001. People on lower incomes will receive no benefit.

■ Introduce a paid parental leave scheme that replaces a mother's salary up to $150,000. To put it crudely, this means a low-income mum gets about $600 per week while a high-income mum gets close to $3000.

■ Abolish the means-tested Schoolkids Bonus that benefits 1.3 million families by providing up to $410 for each primary school child and up to $820 for each high school child.

These policies will result in low- and middle-income earners paying billions of dollars more in tax while those on higher incomes receive billions in tax cuts and new benefits. Rather than take from the rich and give to the poor, the Coalition policies are a case of take from the poor and give to the rich.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9avXCW

Yes i do 65, even i could do a better job than the ALP.

I cant see most of things happening to be honest. Perhaps the end or a significant reduction in the baby bonus
Tax free threshold was just changed so cant see that going back to $6k. Stop clutching at straws mate lets deal with the facts.

If Abbott does raise taxes through GST or other means, its because of the wasteful spending of the ALP and the former Rudd government in 08/09. The money has to come from somewhere to pay for it and guess whose pockets will be affected.    Normal every day Australian's that's where.



 

[Smokey]

Daniel

Do you really think Abbott will be any better.

Read below and add the fact that he is planning to do away with penalty rates.

 

Voting for Tony will come at a cost.

Abbott, not Gillard, is the true 'class warrior'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9wlfIQ

Is Prime Minister Julia Gillard engaging in ''class warfare'' in a desperate bid to save her political skin? A recent

Galaxy poll found most middle-income earners think she is. So, that settles it, right? Well, not really.

As with most things in politics, the reality is more complicated...

...What is surprising is the extent to which Coalition policies will result in a significant redistribution of wealth upwards rather than downwards. Consider the following Coalition policies:

■ Lower the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $6000. This will drag more than one million low-income earners back into the tax system. It will also increase the taxes for 6 million Australians earning less than $80,000.

■ Abolish the low-income superannuation contribution. This will reimpose a 15 per cent tax on superannuation contributions for people earning less than $37,000.

■ Abolish the proposed 15 per cent tax on income from superannuation above $100,000 a year. The combined effect of these two superannuation changes is that 16,000 high-income earners with superannuation savings in excess of $2 million will get a tax cut while 3.6 million workers earning less than $37,000 will pay more than $4 billion extra in tax on their super over the next four years.

■ Abolish the means test on the private health insurance rebate. This will deliver a $2.4 billion tax cut over three years for individuals earning over $84,001 a year, or couples earning over $168,001. People on lower incomes will receive no benefit.

■ Introduce a paid parental leave scheme that replaces a mother's salary up to $150,000. To put it crudely, this means a low-income mum gets about $600 per week while a high-income mum gets close to $3000.

■ Abolish the means-tested Schoolkids Bonus that benefits 1.3 million families by providing up to $410 for each primary school child and up to $820 for each high school child.

These policies will result in low- and middle-income earners paying billions of dollars more in tax while those on higher incomes receive billions in tax cuts and new benefits. Rather than take from the rich and give to the poor, the Coalition policies are a case of take from the poor and give to the rich.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/abbott-not-gillard-is-the-true-class-warrior-20130428-2imis.html#ixzz2Rn9avXCW

There's an unbiased source of reporting - The Age.   

Second only to The Courier Mail as a sycophantic Labor propaganda machine.   

[WilliamPowell]

So the witch declares the Medicare levy increase will form part of her election policies for us to vote on.

Just when we thought it would be a landslide she just keeps digging her own grave further and further. Higher taxes for hardworking Australians to fund her parties wasteful spending. Good luck getting extra votes.

Labour Party are finished. With any luck they are disgraced on the same day as the EFC as they both deserve each other.

The Medicare Levy is being increased to fund the NDIS = National Disability Insurance Scheme. Do you know what it is? What its purpose is? The NDIS is not wasteful spending 

Do you have a problem with helping those who are some of our most vunerable? The disabled? Those folks that are so often forgotten

Higher taxes - please give me a break for someone of $60k it is leas than a $1.00 a day. For me it will be a lot more and quite frankly I don't give a stuff because the NDIS is just so important.

Perhaps if both sides of poilitics had the GUTS to abolish some of the middle class welfare that gets splashed around then there wouldn't be a need to increase levies to fund these things. It is the middle class welfare system that we we cannot afford but not one political party will remove it. Welfare should only be for those who geniunely need it.

Said it before will say it again, welfare, govt payments call them what you will are not a right, pity people don't realsie it.

Daniel: For memory you have children and you sooked about the reduction in the baby bonus a while back. Can only imagine what you'd be like if that, family allowances and education rebates were abolished. You'd be saying you are hard done by.

Well guess what the disabled and their carers in this country have had it tough for a bloody long time and deserve this scheme. And if funding means I am out of pocket a couple of buck a week then so be it.

And what are you going to say when the Coalition reverse the tax cuts that can in last year that benefitted hardworking low income Australians? Or doesn't that matter?

Really believe people don't know how lucky we are in this country and good we've got it

[Rampstar]

DisabilityCare is the only policy that this disgraceful government can be proud of. I actually support DisabilityCare because people with disabilities have been treated like s.iht for decades in this country.

In this country failed able-bodied politicians of all sides, able-bodies public bureaucrats who wouldnt know if their backsides are on fire and corporate leaders going from small business right through to the biggest companies in the land make decisions about people with disabilities or with problems every day.

These able-bodied 'do-gooders' who I may add earn the high salaries in this country have created a society where 95% of able-bodied people have nice cushy jobs and 70% of people with disabilities are on unemployment or disability pensions. Most I believe are on or below the poverty line. These politicians, bureaucrats and corporate leaders should be ashamed of themselves IMHO. They have systematically destroyed the hopes and aspirations of people with disabilities over decades and the sad part is they think they do a good job. IMHODisability Policy in Australia has been nothing more than a shameful National Disgrace.

Whilst these abled bodied decision makers pandered to greenies, homosexuals and others who chose their causes, they decided to stick the knives into people who often had no choice about living with disability.

So I support the policy. Its the only decent policy Gillard has ever come up with and Im happy to contribute towards it being implemented.

[tiger101]

Gillard already playing politics on the NDIS by using it as a political campaign for her election.

TONY Abbott has challenged Julia Gillard to legislate her national disability insurance scheme before this year's election, after the Prime Minister declared she would go to the poll arguing for a 0.5 per cent income tax hike to help pay for the scheme.

He said he wanted to see an NDIS legislated in this parliament, and if the government came up with a “responsibly-funded” proposal, he would vote for it.

“My hope, and I'm sure the hope of the millions of Australians who want to see a national disability insurance scheme introduced as soon as possible, is that the Prime Minister will put the legislation into this parliament,” Mr Abbott.

“If she thinks she knows what she wants, let's get the legislation in the parliament and I am very happy to deal with it in the four weeks after the budget.”

The challenge is a clear attempt to draw out the Prime Minister on exactly how she will fund the full NDIS, which Mr Abbott is committed to introducing if he wins the election.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/julia-gillard-plans-to-put-ndis-funding-plan-to-voters-but-tony-abbott-says-lets-do-it-now/story-fn59nsif-1226633101967

[Francois Jackson]

So the witch declares the Medicare levy increase will form part of her election policies for us to vote on.

Just when we thought it would be a landslide she just keeps digging her own grave further and further. Higher taxes for hardworking Australians to fund her parties wasteful spending. Good luck getting extra votes.

Labour Party are finished. With any luck they are disgraced on the same day as the EFC as they both deserve each other.

The Medicare Levy is being increased to fund the NDIS = National Disability Insurance Scheme. Do you know what it is? What its purpose is? The NDIS is not wasteful spending 

Do you have a problem with helping those who are some of our most vunerable? The disabled? Those folks that are so often forgotten

Higher taxes - please give me a break for someone of $60k it is leas than a $1.00 a week. For me it will be a lot more and quite frankly I don't give a stuff because the NDIS is just so important.

Perhaps if both sides of poilitics had the GUTS to abolish some of the middle class welfare that gets splashed around then there wouldn't be a need to increase levies to fund these things. It is the middle class welfare system that we we cannot afford but not one political party will remove it. Welfare should only be for those who geniunely need it.

Said it before will say it again, welfare, govt payments call them what you will are not a right, pity people don't realsie it.

Daniel: For memory you have children and you sooked about the reduction in the baby bonus a while back. Can only imagine what you'd be like if that, family allowances and education rebates were abolished. You'd be saying you are hard done by.

Well guess what the disabled and their carers in this country have had it tough for a bloody long time and deserve this scheme. And if funding means I am out of pocket a couple of buck a week then so be it.

And what are you going to say when the Coalition reverse the tax cuts that can in last year that benefitted hardworking low income Australians? Or doesn't that matter?

Really believe people don't know how lucky we are in this country and good we've got it

WP  maybe if you read my comments i referred to wasteful spending of the Rudd era and now Gillard government. Insullation, clunkers scheme, NBN. Perhaps i shoud've been more specific.

She says the increase in medicare levy will fund the disability scheme. Well my point is if the ALP didn't waste money on all these failed projects then she wouldn't need to ask us to fund the project.
This may yet be a good project, but what i dont like paying for is things that this incompetent government should be, but cant as they have no money left in the coffers.

Did i sook about the baby bonus? Uum if i did and thats a big if, maybe i didn't understand that the scheme actually gives more to families
The paid parental(if you know what that is) actually gives more money to families than the actual baby bonus. This is what i received for my first child, not the baby bonus
I did not receive anything the second time around but did i complain. No.

To answer your last point if they reversed the tax cuts i will point the finger squarely at the Gillard/Rudd government as it really left the Libs with no choice but to fix up this hole we now find ourselves in.

[WilliamPowell]

WP  maybe if you read my comments i referred to wasteful spending of the Rudd era and now Gillard government. Insullation, clunkers scheme, NBN. Perhaps i shoud've been more specific.

Yep you should have been because you said:

"Higher taxes for hardworking Australians to fund her parties wasteful spending."

You implied that the increase in the medicare levy was to fund another project in the wasteful spending category

I was only pointing out this increase is to fund the NDIS. And IMVHO no one should be complaining about it

She says the increase in medicare levy will fund the disability scheme. Well my point is if the ALP didn't waste money on all these failed projects then she wouldn't need to ask us to fund the project.
This may yet be a good project, but what i dont like paying for is things that this incompetent government should be, but cant as they have no money left in the coffers.

So does your objection to "wasteful" spending only apply to this government or all governments? All governments bring in stupid projects. And when it is all said and done we the tax payer fund every bloody thing

As a taxpayer I object to funding the stupid baby bonus that gets rorted by so many people it's not funny, while the elderly receive pensions that are insulting. But because i am in the minority my objections don't matter as much it would seem

Did i sook about the baby bonus? Uum if i did and thats a big if, maybe i didn't understand that the scheme actually gives more to families
The paid parental(if you know what that is) actually gives more money to families than the actual baby bonus. This is what i received for my first child, not the baby bonus
I did not receive anything the second time around but did i complain. No.

You complained about the govt introducing means testing for the baby bonus just before your first little one came along. Think you also might have mentioned how expensive it was having a bub was and the baby bonus would help. My counter argument to that was and still is if you can't afford to have bubs folks shouldn't have them

Actually go back to the early pages of thisd thread and you complained about having to pay a levy to assist with the rebuild of Qld etc after the floods

Yes I do know what paid parental leave. For memory it was introduced by the current govt, another of their stupid projects I suppose 

To answer your last point if they reversed the tax cuts i will point the finger squarely at the Gillard/Rudd government as it really left the Libs with no choice but to fix up this hole we now find ourselves in.

Absoulet crap. 

Tony and Joe harp on about caring about working families. If they really care about the increased costs of living they wont touch the income tax rates.

Gillard already playing politics on the NDIS by using it as a political campaign for her election.

TONY Abbott has challenged Julia Gillard to legislate her national disability insurance scheme before this year's election, after the Prime Minister declared she would go to the poll arguing for a 0.5 per cent income tax hike to help pay for the scheme.

He said he wanted to see an NDIS legislated in this parliament, and if the government came up with a “responsibly-funded” proposal, he would vote for it.

“My hope, and I'm sure the hope of the millions of Australians who want to see a national disability insurance scheme introduced as soon as possible, is that the Prime Minister will put the legislation into this parliament,” Mr Abbott.

“If she thinks she knows what she wants, let's get the legislation in the parliament and I am very happy to deal with it in the four weeks after the budget.”

The challenge is a clear attempt to draw out the Prime Minister on exactly how she will fund the full NDIS, which Mr Abbott is committed to introducing if he wins the election.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/julia-gillard-plans-to-put-ndis-funding-plan-to-voters-but-tony-abbott-says-lets-do-it-now/story-fn59nsif-1226633101967

Would say going by that article so is Tony Abbott

How will Tony & Joe fund it? Oh thats right by abolishing the income tax cuts for low income earners that canme in last July