The Gillard Government

[Garpal Gumnut]

She is a mullet wearing Dalek.

gg

 

[sails]

They succeeded in getting everyone to give up the fags so now they need to get the money elsewhere.

Oh todster, how very naive...

The reality is that some may have given up due to cost, some may have given up and then started again, but I suspect very few actually gave up.

The thing is, as with all drugs, people will use them whatever the cost. They will go without other things. So, the government have all that extra tax on EVERY box of fags.

What are they doing with all the money they already get in revenue? Something like $350 billion per annum...

Just some basic budgeting would help instead of throwing money away as Bevo has pointed out in Townsville. To get $1000 just because you lost power is rather silly when infrastructure is desperately neeing to be fixed from the floods. And I suppose people who have insurance for power loss to freezers pick up insurance funds as well as the $1000?

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Too right with the extended family having handed me their keycards, I'm sitting on $20,400.

Hpw do I spend this?

And more importantly who to I vote for??

An idiot ALP Guvment who increase my bottom line, OR

A Party The Liberals, with vision who are a bit flakey?

gg

 

[Calliope]

And more importantly who to I vote for??

An idiot ALP Guvment who increase my bottom line, OR

A Party The Liberals, with vision who are a bit flakey?

gg

Naturally you will vote for whoever dishes out hard earned taxpayer's money willy-nilly to the improvident and the undeserving.

That's why we elected Gough Whitlam in 1972. His win was boosted of course by the Liberals having an ineffective leader in McMahon.

Personally I would vote for the party that would cut out the baby bonus, first home owner's grants and middle class welfare, and use the money saved to cease taxation on interest paid on money in the bank, and term deposits.

 

[IFocus]

Retailers brace for bonanza
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/02/12/207201_news.html

Went to centrelink the other day to collect the free 1000 bucks because I lost power for more than 48 hrs due to Yasi, I can say now I totally understand why this government needs more taxes, here in Townsville I think that there would be few people that faced hardship due to Yasi yet this government were just throwing money around like it means nothing most people I know couldn't believe they just recieved that amount of money for what was really a small inconvenience, I reckon flatscreen TV's, iphone's and other popular gadgets sales will do well here over the next couple of weeks.

Over on the levy thread there were screams about how all the money had gone and the government were not helping...............

 

[Calliope]

Over on the levy thread there were screams about how all the money had gone and the government were not helping...............

You call that help? It's the usual Gillard handout to the wrong people. Not only did GG and Bevo get money they didn't deserve, they are excused from paying the levy. Wouldn't you say that's worth a scream or two?

 

[drsmith]

It's the usual Gillard handout to the wrong people.

I suppose when a government feels it can raise taxes at will, it does not have to concern itself about how well targeted its spending is.

 

[trainspotter]

Meanwhile back onto Health Reform:

“Julia Gillard is so desperate to have any kind of win that she is prepared to abandon reform of the health sector just so that she can get something off the agenda.”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...n-tells-premiers/story-fn59nokw-1226005214071

Ms Gillard has backed away from a push for the Commonwealth to become the dominant funder of the health system and instead has put forward a plan to set up a national health funding pool.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/13/3137425.htm?section=justin

One casualty of the GST climbdown is the federal government having to drop its promise to fund 100 per cent of all out-of-hospital GP and primary care services.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillard-backs-down-to-secure-health-reform-20110211-1aqjm.html

Oh dear ! More backflips then than an Olympic 3 metre springboard diving competition.

 

[Julia]

Given the comments from Anna Bligh and the new Tasmanian Premier to the effect that they will not be quick to sign anything, Ms Gillard may find herself doing even more backflips. Observations from various health professionals note that it shouldn't be termed 'health reforms' because it's so far all about money, with no apparent benefit to either doctors or patients.

Sigh.

 

[sails]

Retailers brace for bonanza
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/02/12/207201_news.html

Went to centrelink the other day to collect the free 1000 bucks because I lost power for more than 48 hrs due to Yasi, I can say now I totally understand why this government needs more taxes, here in Townsville I think that there would be few people that faced hardship due to Yasi yet this government were just throwing money around like it means nothing most people I know couldn't believe they just recieved that amount of money for what was really a small inconvenience, I reckon flatscreen TV's, iphone's and other popular gadgets sales will do well here over the next couple of weeks.

We know of a guy that is on and off the dole quite frequently, but was so excited to get his $1000. I don't think there was any damage but money has all been spent. He is sporting a new phone and goodness knows what else...

It's lovely when santa comes with a $1000 gift card, but it seems that this government is either being too stingy with means testing or way too flippant in throwing money out the window regardless of whether or not it is paying for damage.

If only they could find the middle road of practicality and some budget skills. But it looks like that is asking too much of this lot...

 

[sails]

Given the comments from Anna Bligh and the new Tasmanian Premier to the effect that they will not be quick to sign anything, Ms Gillard may find herself doing even more backflips. Observations from various health professionals note that it shouldn't be termed 'health reforms' because it's so far all about money, with no apparent benefit to either doctors or patients.

Sigh.

Julia, agree and it all seems to be about the money. In the Sunday Mail today there are noises about increasing tax on LPG to 15% by 2015. So, they give with one hand to get people on to it, then get the money back with increased taxes on it...

I'm still convinced that carbon tax/ETS is nothing more than the money.

While it looks like NBN is being rolled out for our benefit, history would say that it will be another form of tax or some sort of revenue raising down the track.

Is there anything labor does that isn't about the money?

 

[drsmith]

If the house of Liberal can put the knives away long enough to remember that it's about winning government from Labor and not about phantom budget cuts, the following about Julia Gillard's position on a carbon tax during the election campaign should offer plenty of fodder.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/election2010/7945914/pm-says-no-carbon-tax-under-her-govt

 

[sails]

This Newspoll from the Australian is showing labor well behind on primary votes and falling on the two party preferred. 2PP was based on prefenence flow at the last election which may be very different if the libs put the greens last as they did in Vic:


PRIMARY VOTE+ COALITION LABOR GREENS OTHERS
Newspoll 4-6 February 2011* 44 32 14 10

TWO PARTY PREFERRED+
Based on preference flow at August 2010 Federal election COALITION LABOR
Newspoll 4-6 February 2011 52 48


More info here: http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads
/110202%20Fed%20Voting%20Intention%20&%20Leaders%20Ratings.pdf

 

[Logique]

Patrick Cook is a wicked satirist. Listen all the way through, it grows increasingly hilarious. Abbott, Gillard, Flannery, nobody escapes.

Link to the .mp3 at http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2011/02/cpt_20110214_1633.mp3 -on 14 Feb, file is 1.87MB, runs 4mins.

The link to the ABC Counterpoint page where I found the .mp3 is: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/

 

[Julia]

Thanks Logique. So funny, especially the bit about Flannery.

The Prime Minister's sojourn in NZ seems to have gone down well all round.
She seems to quite quickly gain some traction when the opposition is in a bit of trouble. She also appears to have picked up her speaking speed a bit and is not droning so badly.

 

[noco]

Patrick Cook is a wicked satirist. Listen all the way through, it grows increasingly hilarious. Abbott, Gillard, Flannery, nobody escapes.

Link to the .mp3 at http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2011/02/cpt_20110214_1633.mp3 -on 14 Feb, file is 1.87MB, runs 4mins.

The link to the ABC Counterpoint page where I found the .mp3 is: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/

Yeah Logidue, good stuff. Laughed my head off!

 

[Logique]

The Greens are too canny to allow themselves to be wedged. But it will be interesting to watch them as the flood levy bill goes through parliament.
From: Gillard hits rough water on flood levy
Friday, January 28, 2011
http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Top...rd_hits_rough_water_on_flood_levy_570160.html

Well now we have our answer, and it is Greens hypocrisy writ large.

Even Fran Kelly seemed terse during the interview with Bob Brown this morning, he clearly expected the usual soft-focus glad handing from 8c a day. Where else would we raise the $100M said Fran. Take more money off the polluting coal industry said Bob. Coal being the latest 'boogey man' to scare people into the moral purity of Greens policy.

Of the expected $1.8B flood levy receipts, 5.5% of this ($100M) is to be skimmed off by the Greens for Christine Milne's solar flagships program and a reduction in the rental for disadvantaged program. This after giving the Coalition a kicking for suggesting the levy was the wrong mechanism.

That's right flood victims, low-incomers struggling with the rent, and everyone struggling to pay the electricity bill. To the Greens it's more important to put solar panels in the desert. To make electricity more expensive.

How much did all the Premers' Flood Appeals raise, was it $100M? I doubt it.

 

[Julia]

Well now we have our answer, and it is Greens hypocrisy writ large.

Even Fran Kelly seemed terse during the interview with Bob Brown this morning, he clearly expected the usual soft-focus glad handing from 8c a day. Where else would we raise the $100M said Fran. Take more money off the polluting coal industry said Bob. Coal being the latest 'boogey man' to scare people into the moral purity of Greens policy.

Of the expected $1.8B flood levy receipts, 5.5% of this ($100M) is to be skimmed off by the Greens for Christine Milne's solar flagships program and a reduction in the rental for disadvantaged program. This after giving the Coalition a kicking for suggesting the levy was the wrong mechanism.

That's right flood victims, low-incomers struggling with the rent, and everyone struggling to pay the electricity bill. To the Greens it's more important to put solar panels in the desert. To make electricity more expensive.

How much did all the Premers' Flood Appeals raise, was it $100M? I doubt it.

I missed the interview. Do you mean they are going ahead with reducing the funds available for the rental for the disadvantaged program? If so, that just disgusts me.
Bloody Greens should all be shot.

 

[sails]

Well now we have our answer, and it is Greens hypocrisy writ large.

Logique, I agree and expressed my frustration early this morning in a post on the levy thread. It seems Ms Gillard has "bought" this green vote at further taxpayers expense...grrrr

If this levy goes ahead, we can only hope it will be a landslide demise of labor federally at the next election as many are tiring of the Rudd and now Gillard shenanigans. If it stops this nonsense, it will absolutely be worth the cup of coffee a week.

$1.8B isn't a lot of money for the government to find. I would think they spill more than this every year on whatever they feel like. This is not about the money - this government could find that money without hurting people. The threats about funding cuts where it will hurt, IMO are simply efforts to coerce us into acceptance.

The opposition to this levy is NOT about being uncaring, it's plainly unnecessary and is below the belt to use emotion in an effort to coerce Aussies into accepting an unnecessary tax to further Ms Gillard's seemingly personal achievements. She must think we are a pretty dumb lot.

 

[sails]

I missed the interview. Do you mean they are going ahead with reducing the funds available for the rental for the disadvantaged program? If so, that just disgusts me.
Bloody Greens should all be shot.

Julia, it seems to be the reverse with funds being re-instated for national rent affordability. Here a the lateline transcript: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3141957.htm

In return for the restoration of $100 million in solar schemes and the reinstatement of a national rent affordability scheme, the Greens have thrown their support behind the levy.

I have no problem with rent affordability being reinstated, but it's the way it's done by "buying" votes that annoys me. It seems that "whatever it takes" will be thrown at this levy.

Oakeshott, Windsor, Wilke are apparently still to make up their minds. Hmmmm wonder what that will cost the taxpayer...