The Abbott Government

[drsmith]

The prospect of leaving the Greens to stand up on their own two feet in their wonderland of Tasmania is one that at first glance is quiet appealing.

 

[Bintang]

Holy Moly, I just found out Tony Abbott ate a raw onion.
I agree with Fairfax - this makes him unsuitable to be PM!

It could certainly have the negative effect of adding symbolic odor to the frequent practice of ‘fluffing his lines’.

 

[Bintang]

The prospect of leaving the Greens to stand up on their own two feet in their wonderland of Tasmania is one that at first glance is quiet appealing.

lol…… especially if their activities and influence could be confined to that small realm.
But after honing their economic demolitions skills on Tasmania they are clearly not satisfied with having reduced the island of Tasmania to a condition of ‘non-viability’. Given the chance they would do the same to our entire Nation.

 

[sptrawler]

why not move towards bribing the states with money on opening up land faster. possibly using some funds to encourage a move to a land tax system and help to reduce the obscene upfront developer levies. IF there was going to be a lot of new supply brought online then I'd say using some super money to hep witht he purchase wouldn't be such a bad idea, but what's the point if there's limited new supply but a few extra billions added to demand?

Singapore allows locals to use their form of super to purchase a house, and if you saw a chart of house price growth there it sort of makes sydney price growth look a bit sedate over the last decade.

as for higher income taxes, no need to do it. just start shutting down a lot of the loopholes available to the rich. discretionary family trusts comes to mind, along with NG and halving of CGT. Tax super contributions at marginal rates. So far none of this is on the agenda.

Good points Syd, also I think I heard, that in Singapore the government build housing for people to buy. I know that wouldn't happen here, but there is no reason they couldn't designate a certain percentage of crown land released, be for low cost housing.

There are a lot of options, one of the least attractive, IMO, is to tie up young peoples money for 40 years.
While the capitalist system, goes to work screwing the future value of said savings.

The only ones who will benefit from the savings, will be the super funds and the Government.IMO

 

[drsmith]

Uni deregulation, Christopher Pyne and the NCRIS funding,

Christopher Pyne accused of trying to 'blackmail' crossbenchers to secure support for university deregulation bill

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-...ail-to-secure-support-university-bill/6320478

Labor in government did not provide funding for the NCRIS beyond June 30 2013 until the 3013/14 budget (May 2013) and then only budgeted funding for the two years to June 30 2015.

From the 2013 budget papers,

The Government will provide $185.9 million over two years to continue the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, which funds the operation and maintenance of critical national research infrastructure. This funding will allow the most critical existing research facilities to continue to deliver maximum benefits to the research community.

A review and evaluation will be undertaken to plan and manage strategic, long‑term future funding and investments in research infrastructure, in line with the National Research Investment Plan.

http://www.budget.gov.au/2013-14/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-16.htm

The Abbott government then extended funding for one year (2015/16) in last year's budget,

The Government will provide $150.0 million in 2015‑16 to continue the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, which funds the operation and maintenance of critical national research infrastructure. This funding will allow the most critical existing research facilities to continue to deliver maximum benefits to the research community.

http://www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-09.htm

It's this funding the government is threatening to withdraw if it can't get uni deregulation through the senate.

Neither government was funding the NCRIS on a long term basis and if the timing of funding from the 2013/14 budget is any guide, no one should be panicking just yet.

 

[Ferret]

There are a lot of options, one of the least attractive, IMO, is to tie up young peoples money for 40 years.
While the capitalist system, goes to work screwing the future value of said savings.

The only ones who will benefit from the savings, will be the super funds and the Government.IMO

How do you figure that, SP? Every figure for super fund long term rates of return that I have ever seen has demonstrated earnings above the rate of inflation.

 

[sptrawler]

How do you figure that, SP? Every figure for super fund long term rates of return that I have ever seen has demonstrated earnings above the rate of inflation.

Yes Ferret, but untill the end, nobody tells you, how much of it you can have. lol

With you PPR at least your not paying rent, no matter what the rent is, it is a weekly return on your investment.

I'm not saying super isn't great, but you only have to read this forum, to realise it is resented even by those who would most benefit.

Before the current downturn and backlash from younger people, I would have said super was a great investment, now there is strong support to demonise those savings.

I would now suggest owning your own house is far more sensible, the return from not paying rent, has to be weighed against an increased dollar value of super balance.

This may not be accessible, may be restricted as to how it is taken, may reduce pension entitlements, may reduce access to medical services, may increase the cost of prescriptions

Maybe you can look in the crystal ball and tell me the benefits. lol,lol
With the current verbal vitreol against super, I would definatelly be avoiding it, only my opinion of course.

Another take on it is a married couple with their own home can have approx $300k and get full pension. That wont change because $300k doesn't sound like not much money.
If that same couple downsized and put another $800k in super, they get no pension or perks.

Now the first couple get $32k pension, all the perks and top up the pension by $20k from savings = $52k

Second couple get 3% on their $1m invested to give them $30k, but they have to take out $40k because of minimum drawdown. Therfore they are minus $10k on their capital, also they don't get the other pensioner perks.

So why would anyone live a frugal life to save more? Other than for self respect?

The days of getting out what you put in seem to be behind us, it seems to have been overtaken by take what you can get, IMO.

 

[banco]

It's this funding the government is threatening to withdraw if it can't get uni deregulation through the senate.

Take away all the rest of the blather and the above is the bottom line.

 

[sptrawler]

Take away all the rest of the blather and the above is the bottom line.

Well, on the other hand, why should the low income earners, subsidise the doctors and high income earners degrees.

If you want to put a Fairfax bent on it.lol

Why should low income earners pay for a degree in journalism? When someone on a breakfast show earns $700,000 a year?

 

[banco]

Well, on the other hand, why should the low income earners, subsidise the doctors and high income earners degrees.

If you want to put a Fairfax bent on it.lol

Why should low income earners pay for a degree in journalism? When someone on a breakfast show earns $700,000 a year?

I'd say that one reason is because the low income earners may want their children to have the oppurtunity to go to uni in the future.

 

[Tisme]

Yes

I'd say that one reason is because the low income earners may want their children to have the oppurtunity to go to uni in the future.

Yes, without letting sp's tongue in cheek being taken seriously, good parents, no matter their economic situation want their kids to aspire.

Similarly if we are supposedly going to move up the market evolutionary scale and leave the menial tasks to third world countries, we need an effective and affordable training regime that older adults can tap into without mortgaging their limited future.

 

[basilio]

Well surprise, surprise , surprise...

Christopher Pyne decides that sacking 1700 elite researchers if the Senate doesn't approve his university defunding Bill might look a tad xxxxxxxx stooopid. He has separated the bills and decided to continue funding the research centres and their work.

How could he ever let the government get into such an obviously stupid situation and continue to threaten the science community up until yesterday?

Just bad government.

 

[IFocus]

Talking of dysfunction and unable to run its own finances and of course that bloody left wing commo biased program 4 Corners...........


Peta Credlin likened to 'horsewoman of the apocalypse' in leaked text messages

ABC’s Four Corners program has obtained message sent by federal Liberal party treasurer using the description and asking for Credlin’s removal

Tony Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, has been described as a “horsewoman of the apocalypse” as further leaks emerge from within the Liberal party executive.

ABC’s Four Corners program has obtained a text message sent from federal Liberal party treasurer Philip Higginson to a senior party figure, in which he describes Credlin as the “horsewoman of the apocalypse” with “black robes flowing”.

The text message continues: “I do hope you can negotiate the removal of Credlin. That would be a huge win in itself,” the ABC reports.

A leaked email from earlier this year shows Higginson had sent an email outlining his concerns that Credlin’s marriage with the Liberal party director, Brian Loughnane, could create a conflict of interest.

http://www.theguardian.com/australi...man-of-the-apocalypse-in-leaked-text-messages

 

[IFocus]

1st dogs view must read sums up the current government

Peta Credlin and the horsepersons of the apocalypse
First Dog on the Moon


http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...redlin-and-the-horsepersons-of-the-apocalypse

 

[noco]

1st dogs view must read sums up the current government

Peta Credlin and the horsepersons of the apocalypse
First Dog on the Moon


http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...redlin-and-the-horsepersons-of-the-apocalypse

Ah yes!!!!!!...what else would one expect from the good old communist paper.

 

[drsmith]

Uni deregulation, Christopher Pyne and the NCRIS funding,

Christopher Pyne has today thrown in the towel on uni deregulation and will leave it to the senate x-bench to scrape off the barnacle.

The rest is just political theatrics.

 

[Tisme]

Who would have thought the social anxiety Tony Abbott spawned while opposition leader would come back to hurt him and his obsequious cohorts as negative rumination in the broader community.

I think the many people are quietly enjoying the long walk Tony is making to political oblivion....Malcolm would be one of those people I reckon. He survived the Ides of March, but now he has get past the budget with only "Labor's Mess" to blame for economic stagnation, de industrialisation and forth coming massive capital outflow to the US and Europe under his watch.

I have a feeling we are about to enter a period where those with real money will be able to pick up some generational assets for cheap. History will not be kind to this govt.

 

[sptrawler]

Who would have thought the social anxiety Tony Abbott spawned while opposition leader would come back to hurt him and his obsequious cohorts as negative rumination in the broader community.

I think the many people are quietly enjoying the long walk Tony is making to political oblivion....Malcolm would be one of those people I reckon. He survived the Ides of March, but now he has get past the budget with only "Labor's Mess" to blame for economic stagnation, de industrialisation and forth coming massive capital outflow to the US and Europe under his watch.

I have a feeling we are about to enter a period where those with real money will be able to pick up some generational assets for cheap. History will not be kind to this govt.

I agree with you Tisme, unfortunately both the current and previous governments, will be tarred with the same brush. IMO
They both smack of incompetence and appear to be deprived of ability

This will lead to a quandary, as to how the general population will vote.
An election will have to be called sooner rather than later, as the impasse in the senate is untenable, as it was always going to be.

The period post Howard will go down in history, as the period where personal political survival, was put in front of the Countries welfare.IMO

 

[Knobby22]

I have a feeling we are about to enter a period where those with real money will be able to pick up some generational assets for cheap. History will not be kind to this govt.

The bond market is picking a recession. If this budget is made of spending cuts and still doesn't address the issues as per David Murray's recommendations then I predict the bond market will be right.

Once we go into a spiral downwards it will be hard to get out of. The good news is that business are cracking some Liberal heads so hopefully it won't come to that. There are some pretty dense heads though.

 

[sptrawler]

The bond market is picking a recession. If this budget is made of spending cuts and still doesn't address the issues as per David Murray's recommendations then I predict the bond market will be right.

Once we go into a spiral downwards it will be hard to get out of. The good news is that business are cracking some Liberal heads so hopefully it won't come to that. There are some pretty dense heads though.

The problem with a recession it isn't selective who it hurts, spending cuts still happen, they just happen with less opposition.
This is because everyone has bigger things to worry about, like 10%+ unemployment, crashing values, increasing inflation and the like.