Flood Levy - Do you agree?

[kiwichick]

cut support to indonesia

yeah good one sherlock!!

Bali bombing anyone? 80 ? aussies was it?

 

[kiwichick]

if you want cuts surely the baby bribe would be a good start... $1 billion annually

or the diesel subsidy ... $5 billion/ year?

or state governments ...... $30 billion/year

and you thought the NBN was expensive ..... yeah right

gotta love aussies ...

 

[drsmith]

Justification for the NBN should be based upon whether it can stand on it's own two feet, not on how well it can lean on what other people can see as inequities.

 

[Julia]

God bless The Australian.

dr, you can be as sarcastic as you like, the "The Australian" does at least question what the government is doing. They do the same with the opposition.

What newspaper do you reckon does a better job overall?

 

[Wysiwyg]

Um, weren't you looking at the nightly TV footage of roads and bridges being swept away? Schools and various other institutional buildings ruined.

Yes I saw the namby pamby Southbank river walk washed away. I also notice on the news tonight the rebuilding of such at some 70 million dollars has been taken off the agenda for now. Nevertheless I'm sure a "bigger and better" river walk will be built at some stage. The automatons tend to spend more money after they walk on water.

I don't quite understand how they have come to a $$ figure so quickly. How do they really know how much the public infrastructure rebuilding is going to cost?

They definitely don't underestimate. Government contracts are quite lucrative.

 

[Wysiwyg]

if you want cuts surely the baby bribe would be a good start... $1 billion annually

Do you mean couples getting paid time off work to bear children? Where do these policies emanate?

The Paid Parental Leave scheme:

* is government funded
* is for eligible working parents
* can be transferred to the other parent
* is paid at the National Minimum Wage - currently $570 a week before tax*
* is for up to 18 weeks, and
* can be taken any time within the first year after birth or adoption.

 

[drsmith]

dr, you can be as sarcastic as you like, the "The Australian" does at least question what the government is doing. They do the same with the opposition.

What newspaper do you reckon does a better job overall?

I read a lot of articles from The Australian. Some though are very biased. My "God bless The Australian" remark is not only reflects my perception of its general bias, but the fact that it is in accordance with my own political bias. Recent criticism of the Liberals I suspect has more to do with the frustration of a party that has forgotten the main game, removed the fuses from the fuse box of their own house and is stalking each other in the dark, knives in hand.

State rags such as those from SA, the NT (a long time ago) and WA I have little time for. The impression I get from these is that they are directed at the intelect of pre-teens.

 

[drsmith]

On the subject of floods, Darwin has had 14 inches of rain in less than 36 hours and it's still heaving it down in serious fashion.

Well and truely worthy of the rain gauge polishing cloth this event. I lived there for about 5 years in the early 90's and when it rained, it didn't mess around. I can't recall anything quiet like this.

 

[IFocus]

I read a lot of articles from The Australian. Some though are very biased. My "God bless The Australian" remark is not only reflects my perception of its general bias, but the fact that it is in accordance with my own political bias. Recent criticism of the Liberals I suspect has more to do with the frustration of a party that has forgotten the main game, removed the fuses from the fuse box of their own house and is stalking each other in the dark, knives in hand.

State rags such as those from SA, the NT (a long time ago) and WA I have little time for. The impression I get from these is that they are directed at the intelect of pre-teens.

Classic post all round DR had a good laugh

 

[Julia]

Recent criticism of the Liberals I suspect has more to do with the frustration of a party that has forgotten the main game, removed the fuses from the fuse box of their own house and is stalking each other in the dark, knives in hand.

That may be so. We don't know. But at least they're prepared to air criticism of the Libs in contrast to pro government lobbyists who lack any objectivity whatsoever.

State rags such as those from SA, the NT (a long time ago) and WA I have little time for. The impression I get from these is that they are directed at the intelect of pre-teens.

I'm not familiar with those, but unless they are extraordinarily pathetic I imagine they will pale in comparison with Brisbane's "Courier Mail" which since turning tabloid in format has matched the format with tabloid journalism. Just unreadable imo.

Coming back to the subject of the thread, I suspect the government - by suggesting they may have to cut disability services and programs of subsidised housing for at risk people and other social programs - are angling to have wavering MPs agree to the flood levy rather than see valuable social programs cut.

The *****'s could so easily cut some middle class welfare, rather than threatening to demolish minimal programs for those who are severely disadvantaged.

 

[drsmith]

Classic post all round DR had a good laugh

Don't get too excited.

I still don't agree with the flood levy, a carbon tax introduced by stealth or poorly targeted government spending in general.

There's plenty to give this government a serve over.

 

[drsmith]

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's 8-day rainfall prognosis, the focus for rainfall over the next week or so will turn towards Western Australia.

A lazy 50mm in Perth would be be very handy.

 

[derty]

We are about to get pizzled on out here in Kalgoorlie. Had enough rain to call the drillers back into town over the last couple of days and expecting 100-200ml between now and Monday. Annual rainfall out here is around 250ml.

 

[IFocus]

Don't get too excited.

I still don't agree with the flood levy, a carbon tax introduced by stealth or poorly targeted government spending in general.

There's plenty to give this government a serve over.

Was talking about your craft of words rather than ideology.............

 

[drsmith]

Was talking about your craft of words rather than ideology.............

I did say something about bias..................

Cheers.

 

[tothemax6]

Didn't realize this thread was still going, so Ill jump in again. Does anyone know why it is that they actually need to do this levy? Where exactly is all of the tax money is being so efficiently and carefully spent, such that there is none left over? More likely it is being spewed randomly around the country on various government pet projects.

A reverse levy would be better.

 

[sails]

Didn't realize this thread was still going, so Ill jump in again. Does anyone know why it is that they actually need to do this levy? Where exactly is all of the tax money is being so efficiently and carefully spent, such that there is none left over? More likely it is being spewed randomly around the country on various government pet projects.

A reverse levy would be better.

I am beginning to think Ms Gillard sees this as a personal achievement to force another tax on the people instead of finding areas of waste in her own government which could easily fund this amount. Maybe something she wants this on her resume...

The emotional excuses for this tax is annoying and especially when she clearly already has tax payer funds to spend on other things of her choice. Saying people are uncaring when they oppose it on the basis that the government could easily find these funds by cutting back on some waste.

Here's an analogy:

How would we feel if we had a neighbour who had an above average income, spends like there is no tomorrow on fast cars, parties, etc. Then one of his kids gets sick and he goes to his neighbours and friends who earn much less than he does asking for financial help for hospital treatment. When his friends suggest he cut back on his own spending, he angrily tells them they are uncaring about his child.​

Some would call this emotional blackmail.

And she has "bought" the green's vote for the levy. Always money available for pork barrelling so she can get her way. Maybe this is why Oakeshott, Windsor and Wilke are holding back to extract a bit more tax payer funds for their own electorates. In some countries "pork barrelling" is called "bribery"...

In exchange for the Greens' vote, the Government has agreed to restore $100 million in funding for solar programs and rental assistance schemes.

From Lateline: Government wins Green support for flood levy

 

[noco]

Well this link shows very clearly, Labor may well be in Government but the Greens hold the power. I read it was more like $324 million, not $100 million Gillard had to pay the Greens just get her flood levy through. Yes! 20% of $1.6 billion.She also had to bribe Wilkie.


http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermai...on_of_the_18_billion_meant_for_flood_victims/

 

[Wysiwyg]

Here's an analogy:

How would we feel if we had a neighbour who had an above average income, spends like there is no tomorrow on fast cars, parties, etc. Then one of his kids gets sick and he goes to his neighbours and friends who earn much less than he does asking for financial help for hospital treatment. When his friends suggest he cut back on his own spending, he angrily tells them they are uncaring about his child.​

Some would call this emotional blackmail.

Could this be an ingrained belief that the government of any day (via tax payer funds) does support the lazy, the irresponsible, and those that believe it is their god-given-right to government support.

 

[drsmith]

Bob Katter's support is perhaps understandable given his electorate is one of the major beneficiaries.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...es-house-of-reps/story-fn3dxity-1226011346563

What though is WA National Tony Crook thinking ?

His vote would have made the difference.