The Abbott Government

[sptrawler]

Note the divergence between the ASX versus the US markets. Things aren't going too well for Australia at the moment....

That would be your biggest understatement yet.IMO

Meanwhile everyone is poking their tonques out at Abbott and calling him names, while the house burns down.lol,lol,lol

 

[noco]

That would be your biggest understatement yet.IMO

Meanwhile everyone is poking their tonques out at Abbott and calling him names, while the house burns down.lol,lol,lol

Yes, why can't the whingers suck it up and accept the cuts the Razor Gang are trying to implement....tell that stupid bloody minded disfunctional senate to start thinking about the National interest instead of self interest.

Bring on a DD and get rid of the riff raff.

 

[noco]

You're ignoring what I wrote or you're irrational once the word Labor is mentioned. I mentioned a downward trend which is impacting both sides in the last few years. Things are softer and softening more than the govt is prepared to acknowledge.

Where is the $122 billion deficit figure from? I'm having trouble finding it. Are you having issues like Joyce with deficit and debt distinctions?

As for ABC - Abbott wasted PR in having ministers try to spin the cuts over the last half week or more. It reduces public trust that coalition members are trying to twist and turn rhetoric about ABC cuts then the PM eventually decides to fess up. Seems their default position is to pull the wool over the eyes of the public instead of being a man (it is a dig at Cormann's comment).

I don't understand why you're spending time trying to defend the Coalition for mistakes and PR spin. All the excuse finding and spin is wasting time and effort. Instead they could talk about the actual issues and then they can better sell cuts and changes. Abbott and co. need to focus on the job and develop policy instead of being stuck in the politics hence why Abbott looks like he is stuck in opposition mode.

We have PR losing trust and has issues with voter satisfacton then taking actions that do not help himself, his part or nation. What a waste of effort.

Perhaps this link might help you to understand about the $123 billion deficit...I was close with $122 billion.

http://www.financeminister.gov.au/media/2014/0925-final-budget-outcome.html

2013-14 Final Budget Outcome

The Final Budget Outcome (FBO) for the 2013-14 financial year is a budget report card on the previous Government’s irresponsible fiscal and economic management.

Despite Labor initially forecasting a surplus of $5.4 billion for the 2013-14 financial year, and keeping this forecast surplus for eight successive budget updates, today’s FBO confirms a $48.5 billion deficit.

This is more than a $30 billion deterioration in the year since former Treasurer Wayne Swan delivered his final Budget.

This deterioration consisted of a write-down in total revenue of more than $18 billion, and policy decisions of just over $11 billion.

This FBO confirms Labor delivered six successive deficits totalling $240 billion with many more to come. Including 2013-14, Labor left the Government with future deficits of $123 billion over the forward estimates to 30 June 2017.

If no policy action was taken to repair the budget position the Government inherited, gross debt would have spiralled to $667 billion over the medium term and continued to grow. It is the equivalent of $25,000 for every Australian. This is Labor’s legacy of debt for all Australians.

In the 2013-14 Budget, Labor finally gave up on their farce of ‘delivering a budget surplus in 2012-13’. At that time they wrote down receipts by $17 billion for the 2013-14 financial year alone, and more than $60 billion over the forward estimates.

On the eve of the 2013 Federal Election, then Treasurer Chris Bowen had to go even further in his 2013 Economic Statement, by writing down receipts a further $7.8 billion for 2013-14 and over $33 billion across the forward estimates.

 

[Julia]

+1
They need to move on from the rhetoric and get on with doing the job.
They just need to man up and say it needs doing, get over it. They're not winning any hearts dribbling on and trying to work with a hostile senate.
Lay out the tax and spending plan, sell it to the general public, then the Senate have no option.

The way it is going, is death by indecision.

Agree and to boofhead's preceding post.

Tony Abbott's lack of gumption was really brought home to me when, flicking through the radio dial a few days ago, I heard the awful Alan Jones berating him over something. Abbott ummed and ahed, became stutteringly defensive and essentially cowered in the face of the attack.
That is absolutely the last thing he should be doing. The Prime Minister being talked down to and mocked by a shock jock? Why does he allow this? Way past time to start demonstrating some strength of character, telling the electorate clearly why we need to make cuts etc.

 

[sptrawler]

Agree and to boofhead's preceding post.

Tony Abbott's lack of gumption was really brought home to me when, flicking through the radio dial a few days ago, I heard the awful Alan Jones berating him over something. Abbott ummed and ahed, became stutteringly defensive and essentially cowered in the face of the attack.
That is absolutely the last thing he should be doing. The Prime Minister being talked down to and mocked by a shock jock? Why does he allow this? Way past time to start demonstrating some strength of character, telling the electorate clearly why we need to make cuts etc.

Absolutely, time he grew a pair, or let someone like Morrison get in there.

 

[Tisme]

Agree and to boofhead's preceding post.

Tony Abbott's lack of gumption was really brought home to me when, flicking through the radio dial a few days ago, I heard the awful Alan Jones berating him over something. Abbott ummed and ahed, became stutteringly defensive and essentially cowered in the face of the attack.
.

Aspergers?

 

[sptrawler]

Aspergers?

There is a little bit of a nasty streak in you, isn't there.

You guy's can't make up your minds, can you.

One minute Abbott is an 'attack dog'

next he has aspergers and cowers under attack.

Just be honest and qualify your remarks by saying, "I've never met Abbott, but hate him intensley"

 

[Calliope]

There is a little bit of a nasty streak in you, isn't there.

Yes. I thought his comment on another thread was gratuitous and nasty.

It's not like Abbott is managing very well either, but the truth is he probably receives far more than $800k as a package... just his charity work alone must bring in a modest income for the groceries and bills

 

[sydboy007]

Note the divergence between the ASX versus the US markets. Things aren't going too well for Australia at the moment....

With everyone knowing the AUD is on the way down you'd have to be crazy going long AUD assets, unless of course you're moving out of Yen or Euro.

 

[sydboy007]

Perhaps this link might help you to understand about the $123 billion deficit...I was close with $122 billion.

http://www.financeminister.gov.au/media/2014/0925-final-budget-outcome.html

2013-14 Final Budget Outcome

The Final Budget Outcome (FBO) for the 2013-14 financial year is a budget report card on the previous Government’s irresponsible fiscal and economic management.

Despite Labor initially forecasting a surplus of $5.4 billion for the 2013-14 financial year, and keeping this forecast surplus for eight successive budget updates, today’s FBO confirms a $48.5 billion deficit.

This is more than a $30 billion deterioration in the year since former Treasurer Wayne Swan delivered his final Budget.

This deterioration consisted of a write-down in total revenue of more than $18 billion, and policy decisions of just over $11 billion.

This FBO confirms Labor delivered six successive deficits totalling $240 billion with many more to come. Including 2013-14, Labor left the Government with future deficits of $123 billion over the forward estimates to 30 June 2017.

If no policy action was taken to repair the budget position the Government inherited, gross debt would have spiralled to $667 billion over the medium term and continued to grow. It is the equivalent of $25,000 for every Australian. This is Labor’s legacy of debt for all Australians.

In the 2013-14 Budget, Labor finally gave up on their farce of ‘delivering a budget surplus in 2012-13’. At that time they wrote down receipts by $17 billion for the 2013-14 financial year alone, and more than $60 billion over the forward estimates.

On the eve of the 2013 Federal Election, then Treasurer Chris Bowen had to go even further in his 2013 Economic Statement, by writing down receipts a further $7.8 billion for 2013-14 and over $33 billion across the forward estimates.

I have issue with blaming Labor for future deficits. Other's have blamed labor for not making changes to the tax system to spend within their means. The falling ToT and the plunge in Govt revenue from the GFC and far too many tax cuts (labor should never have tried to out bid Howard in the 07 election) are not relevant in the debt and deficit discussion. So the ball is in the Abbott Govt court, and so far they seemed to have dropped it big time.

I seem to remember the coalition saying they could have run surpluses every year Labor was in office, yet it's looking like the deficit this FY might be one of the largest in Australian history. Might even beat last years inflated deficit depending on if China can resist kicking the can down the road.

If the Govt had been offering decent policy and tax reform, I'd be behind them and telling the senate to get out of the way. But so far there's been very little fair and meaningful reform. Youth unemployment should be a nation shame already, yet you support the Govt forcing the under 30s to try and live for 6 months with no income. That's not the kind of Australia I want us to become. We're already too much like the USA. Turning our backs on those who can't find a job in recessionary conditions, and with 14% youth unemployment that's the only way you can describe the current situation. Currently there's something like 7 unemployed for every job vacancy, yet the Govt wants the unemployed to send off 40 job applications a month. Who comes's up witht hat kind of idiotic policy? No need to do a but Labor rant. That's the past. What's Abbott going to do about the here and now and immediate future to the next election?

The GP co payment was poorly targeted. Tighten it up and it might be useful, but forget the medical slush fund and use the money to reduce the deficit. Making the universities like the USA is also not the way to go. The brownstone Unis will charge as much as they can, like the Ivy league colleges do in the USA, while the rest of the unis will bump their fees up as well. There's already not enough nurses and teachers studying. Making the economics even worse for those careers is just plain stupid.

Hockey's ending the age of entitlement made me hope we were going to see some meaningful reform in the current budget. There's nothing in it that's going to help make the tax system more efficient and fairer.

if Hockey does nothing after the MYEFO is released, he needs to resign and get someone in who's willing to put some hard work in to begin treasurer. A few more % of debt to GDP and we'll probably be on negative watch from at least S&P who have already said 30% is the point of a downgrade for Australia. Interest rates will be rising before then and the support the Govt balance sheet has given the banks will be gone. I fear we might have to get to that banana republic moment before the political class starts to take some serious action.

 

[Logique]

Agree and to boofhead's preceding post.

Tony Abbott's lack of gumption was really brought home to me when, flicking through the radio dial a few days ago, I heard the awful Alan Jones berating him over something. Abbott ummed and ahed, became stutteringly defensive and essentially cowered in the face of the attack.
That is absolutely the last thing he should be doing. The Prime Minister being talked down to and mocked by a shock jock? Why does he allow this? Way past time to start demonstrating some strength of character, telling the electorate clearly why we need to make cuts etc.

Making it worse, we have to see Peter Costello brushing them aside, in the Senate and on Bolt

 

[orr]

Like dogs chase cars leads to the question 'What do they do when they catch them???'
So now we have the Abbott government, 'chased office and caught it, hasn't got a clue what to do with it, Except maybe Morrison, who's busy mauling the tyres. And is that that Turnbull, on the grass, licking his bollocks, Pyne chasing his tail 'almost got it, almost got it'

 

[Tisme]

Yes. I thought his comment on another thread was gratuitous and nasty.

I think you are showing your indefatigable loyalty to a party, est-ce pas?

I'm sure with all the vitriol Abbott built his career on, he is able to absorb a few barbs now and again. Let's face the truth, he is best at being a snipe, disingenuous, damaging and obstropolous; he's just not PM material, he's a an embarrassment to thinking people everywhere.

Still reckon he's got something going on up top....... that interview clip of him flummoxed and obviously out to the world, the disconnect with the occasion and content, etc reminds me of Cassius Clay post career.

 

[Tisme]

. And is that that Turnbull, on the grass, licking his bollocks, Pyne chasing his tail 'almost got it, almost got it'

I see Malcolm dropped his boss in it yesterday and admitted Abbott lied about the ABC safety net.

My internet posts on this board must be getting through to him, coz none of you wowsers seem to be able to break the shackles of your parent's political bias and subservience

 

[drsmith]

Have you noticed that Newscorp are starting to turn against the Prime Minister?
He has been effectively given a deadline in August next year to turn around the polls otherwise Newscorp (Rupert?) will actively work to change the leader.
His papers are also advocating against the Treasurer (as posted by Noco). I predict Joe will lose treasury after Christmas in the silly season.

Also today in the Age it was revealed by a retired Treasury whistleblower that the taxation department has effectively quartered the staff looking at the behaviour of large companies and it is a free for all now for avoiding taxes with all the large accounting consulting companies arranging tax havens.

Do you feel that maybe the big end of town is calling the shots in the Abbott government? I do, and I think that Abbott is being forced to do things he doesn't agree with, hence Sir Rumpole's comment above.

Did you watch David Leyonhjelm on Insiders last weekend ?

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2014/s4134246.htm

It's true that the performance of his senior ministers has been highly variable but TA has shown great loyalty to his team. At some point though he will have to reshuffle but at the moment he is biding his time in my view and that will have to happen some stage next year if the underperformers don't improve (of which I agree Joe Hockey has been poor).

While TA is obviously not the world's greatest orator, he's no idiot. Let's not forget that many said he wouldn't be PM and it was his political strategy that played a significant part in bringing down the Rudd government in 2010. I do agree however that he needs to improve the team behind him. There is a point when loyalty becomes a fault.

Perhaps you could post a link for The Age article you mention above.

 

[Calliope]

I think you are showing your indefatigable loyalty to a party, est-ce pas?

Au contraire, my comment was made in regard to your inference that Abbott took kickbacks from charities.

 

[Tisme]

Au contraire, my comment was made in regard to your inference that Abbott took kickbacks from charities.

Is that all! Well it's well documented he has taken payment for "charity work" and excuses it as him being the drawcard for sponsorship at such events. see Tim Mathieson and his (Abbott's) indigenous volunteer work articles

 

[Tisme]

https://independentaustralia.net/po...costly-indigenous-community-volunteering,5628

I love it when pollies get a serve for distortion of truth (lying)

 

[SirRumpole]

https://independentaustralia.net/po...costly-indigenous-community-volunteering,5628

I love it when pollies get a serve for distortion of truth (lying)

Not to mention billing the taxpayer for flogging his own book or going to some Liberal mate's wedding.

Yes, I know they all do it to some extent, but Abbott's efforts seem more blatantly dishonest than most.

 

[Calliope]

Is that all! Well it's well documented he has taken payment for "charity work" and excuses it as him being the drawcard for sponsorship at such events. see Tim Mathieson and his (Abbott's) indigenous volunteer work articles

Surely you're joking. Do you mean this Tim Mathieson? Gillard's live-in gigolo? Hardly a credible source.:rolleye

Friends have told Australia's Woman's Day magazine that they have known for months that the couple's relationship was in trouble - and it didn't help matters when it was recently revealed that Miss Gillard has personally repaid $A4243 (£2,500) to the Department of Finance because Mr Mathieson was said to have misused her taxpayer-funded car when she was Prime Minister

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-lover-living-caravan-bush.html#ixzz3K7xLcIeN

I love it when pollies get a serve for distortion of truth (lying)

Yes, especially when it comes from a leftist rag called Independent Australia.