The Gillard Government

[sails]

Is Penny Wong preparing us for cuts to the health budget? IMO, I think this government should also be looking at other areas such as Rudd's billions of dollars for handouts than hurting the very people who pay the taxes in the first place. She reckons the health budget has in increased from $10.8 billion in the early 1980s to $130bn in 2010-11. You wonder why this wasn't looked at BEFORE driving us into debt and giving out money for plasmas in the GFC. What about the hugely expensive school buildings - some of which are questionable if they were even needed?

It seems this government have all the money they need for the things they want, but very happy to hurt the taxpayers for essential services that should be paid by our taxes. It is hard to determine just how much this labor government plans to hurt the "working families" that they usually support in this budget and with other questionable policies.

It seems that labor has become far removed from it's origins of a working people's party.

Full article from the Austraian: Only tough budget cuts will avoid inflation

In this budget we will have to confront some difficult truths, and the burgeoning growth in health expenditure is one of them. In real terms, our national health expenditure has grown on average at about 5 per cent each year over the past decade, while our economy has grown about 3 per cent each year. So each year we don't just spend more on health, we spend a greater proportion of our collective resources on it. The maths takes you to a hard truth: we either spend less on health or we spend less on something else.

 

[Logique]

Penny Wong, what a performance on Q&A.

No way was she going to let Greg Hunt say anything about the carbon tax. The business suit cloaks hard left sensibilities. Future leader? In which universe?

Even Kevin Rudd can admit being wrong Penny.

Stephen Smith has impressed lately, firm on the ADF.

 

[IFocus]

It's no wonder Brown is as smug as a rat with a gold tooth.

LOL watched an interview of Brown the other day your quote summed him up nicely.

 

[drsmith]

Penny Wong, what a performance on Q&A.

No way was she going to let Greg Hunt say anything about the carbon tax. The business suit cloaks hard left sensibilities. Future leader? In which universe?

Even Kevin Rudd can admit being wrong Penny.

Poor Pen's defence of the carbon tax went downhill somewhat near the end when she suggested Australians made a choice on this at the last election.

That being said, Greg Hunt's responses to some questions were not particularly articulate and Penny was able to drag him down to her level.

 

[trainspotter]

400 million to be cut back from research ....... I am so glad they spent all that money on pink batts now.

News broke out last week that the Australian government is planning major cutbacks in the medical research sector. Cuts of AU$ 400 million over the next three years are expected from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia's premier funding body for medical research. Putting this figure in perspective, AU$ 400m accounts for more than a 50% cut in funding.

http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/labcoat-life/take_a_stance_against_medical

http://abc.gov.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2011/3188675.htm .... well worth the listen.

 

[joea]

Well I am finally convinced that some of this "marijuana" that is being impounded, is finding it way to the Labor politicans in Canberra.

It appears we are going to be taxed "on all and sundry", and any rebates we have will be reduced and so on.

It also appears that the other parties are inhaling some of the smoke!!

This country is in a spiral down, and this minority government is not helping one bit.

Gillard and the economic geniuses that she is utilising, are going round in circles.

God help Australia!!!

 

[sptrawler]

Yes, brilliant the first term of office and they throw money around like drunks. Get rid of a guvnmnt surplus that took years to build up.
Second term in office, they sober up with a hangover and turn all nasty. It will be really interesting to see what happens if they get a third term. Maybe go for counseling about how they managed to increase taxing so much in so little time and blow so much money with nothing to show for it. PRICELESS.

 

[joea]

Yes, brilliant the first term of office and they throw money around like drunks. Get rid of a guvnmnt surplus that took years to build up.
Second term in office, they sober up with a hangover and turn all nasty. It will be really interesting to see what happens if they get a third term. Maybe go for counseling about how they managed to increase taxing so much in so little time and blow so much money with nothing to show for it. PRICELESS.

sptrawler.
The concern I have, is that anything they started they have not finished.
Then they head off in a different direction.

They are like a kid with a heap of new toys and a "concentration span" of 5 minutes.
They are attempting to do "too much too fast", and the result is they have stuffed everything up.

 

[Logique]

Some things are entirely predictable.

Listen to the national news bulletins today. It's 'tough on welfare Julia' now. People who could work, and should, says our PM, brimming with the righteous zeal of the newly converted, like St Paul on the road to Damascus.

 

[trainspotter]

Some things are entirely predictable.

Listen to the national news bulletins today. It's 'tough on welfare Julia' now. People who could work, and should, says our PM, brimming with the righteous zeal of the newly converted, like St Paul on the road to Damascus.

ROFL ...... When the Libs cracked down on the welfare bludgers the opposition (read Labor) were howling like a dog with its balls cut off. Talk about a paradigm shift !

Anyone think it strange as to how only a few years ago the Labor Party was throwing money around like drunken sailors on shore leave and now they are cutting back to balance a budget?? I read one of the posters in here likened them to a Friday Night Binge Drinker where on the night they are shouting everyone at the bar, wake up in the morning covered in their own spew and trying to retrace their steps as to how they got home AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ALL MY MONEY ....... finally turning into a nasty hangover whereby it's everybody elses fault. :

 

[sails]

Some things are entirely predictable.

Listen to the national news bulletins today. It's 'tough on welfare Julia' now. People who could work, and should, says our PM, brimming with the righteous zeal of the newly converted, like St Paul on the road to Damascus.

And people wonder why the Coalition don't bring out their policies too soon before an election as our predictable Ms Gillard then decides that's a good idea and regurgitates it in a slightly different format...yuk

I don't remember Ms Gillard having any such policy until Abbott came up with it. And I suspect there is little or no thought in her welfare policy - she just can't seem to get Abbott off her mind...lol

Respect is earned and Ms Gillard seems to not care that the electorate do not like having her nose thumbed at them, IMO.

 

[sails]

Here's an article on Gillard jumping on to Abbott's latest policy announcement.

From SMH: PM's welfare reforms are cliches: Abbott

But Mr Abbott insists there is a significant difference between Ms Gillard's speech on welfare and one he delivered a fortnight ago.

 

[Logique]

It was once said, in the early stages of the brainwashing, that all the tax proceeds were coming back to the community. Now Greg Combet is saying only 50% is coming back.

The introductory carbon price, inadequately remediating our evil carbon dioxide behaviour - why wouldn't the carbon price gradually be raised until we were all using candles and hurricane lamps, and cycling to work, 50km away.

How machiavellian of them to give this ministry to Greg Combet, great for his career - not.

 

[sptrawler]

sptrawler.
The concern I have, is that anything they started they have not finished.
Then they head off in a different direction.

They are like a kid with a heap of new toys and a "concentration span" of 5 minutes.
They are attempting to do "too much too fast", and the result is they have stuffed everything up.

You have nailed it there. The sad part is, Mum and Dad don't mind forgiving the kids. I don't think Mum and Dad will be as forgiving with the people who are supposed to be running the country with their money.
What a gem today Labor are going to get tough with the only voters they have left. Talk about going into a tail spin, this is getting better and better.
Now all we need is Swan to pipe up about something, maybe he is smarter than I give him credit for, he is saying nothing.
Well one thing for sure, the Labor party will make some money when they sell the film rights to this debarcle.

 

[IFocus]

ROFL ...... When the Libs cracked down on the welfare bludgers the opposition (read Labor) were howling like a dog with its balls cut off. Talk about a paradigm shift !

Every one keeps harping about the current Labor government being socialists, where, when?

There used to be a Bob Hawke surf team of which I was a proud member seems Gillard isn't of the same ilk.

 

[DB008]

Yes, brilliant the first term of office and they throw money around like drunks. Get rid of a guvnmnt surplus that took years to build up.
Second term in office, they sober up with a hangover and turn all nasty. It will be really interesting to see what happens if they get a third term. Maybe go for counseling about how they managed to increase taxing so much in so little time and blow so much money with nothing to show for it. PRICELESS.

Anyone think it strange as to how only a few years ago the Labor Party was throwing money around like drunken sailors on shore leave and now they are cutting back to balance a budget?? I read one of the posters in here likened them to a Friday Night Binge Drinker where on the night they are shouting everyone at the bar, wake up in the morning covered in their own spew and trying to retrace their steps as to how they got home AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ALL MY MONEY ....... finally turning into a nasty hangover whereby it's everybody elses fault. :

Greats posts. I did in fact laugh out loud on these two!

Problem is, people who are 18-30 don't see it this way. They have watched "Inconvenient Truth" and vote for the Greens without thinking of the consequences. It's crazy.

 

[Julia]

For some reason unclear to me, there has been quite some discussion in the audio media in the last days about the schools chaplaincy program. I was vaguely aware of this when mentoring in high schools but didn't give it much thought in what seemed to be pretty clearly a secular environment.

However, this evening on ABC Radio, there is a Religion and Ethics section, wherein the ABC's Religion commentator provided the illuminating fact that Ms Gillard in her election campaign provided $224 million to extend the schools chaplaincy program to the end of 2014.

She apparently did this before receiving the outcome of a review into the program.
Why? So she could buy the support of the Australian Christian Lobby.

I just wonder how many other obscure programs are receiving our tax dollars courtesy our federal government, either currently or as vote buyers in the campaign, about which we know nothing?

I for one absolutely do not support any tax I have ever paid going to fund a chaplaincy program in our State schools. If people want their children to have religious education then they can send said children to religiously-based schools.

 

[trainspotter]

Every one keeps harping about the current Labor government being socialists, where, when?

There used to be a Bob Hawke surf team of which I was a proud member seems Gillard isn't of the same ilk.

Ok you got me IFocus. Let me think about this ....... "The Building Education REVOLUTION" for one? Strange use of terminology dontcha think? "The CITIZENS Assembly" spring to mind? Lat time I heard "citizens" and "revolution" in the same era I thought Trotsky and Lenin were at it and about it.

"Labor believes in a strong role for national government ”” the one institution all Australians truly own and control through our right to vote." Labor "will not allow the benefits of change to be concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, or located only in privileged communities. The benefits must be shared by all Australians and all our regions." The Platform and Labor "believe that all people are created equal in their entitlement to dignity and respect, and should have an equal chance to achieve their potential." - LABOR PARTY IDEALISM

"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?" - George Orwell at his finest

Socialism ?????? Smacks of the stuff.

 

[sptrawler]

Gillards next disaster, Wilkie, lets see how this one pans out. Abbott must be giving a sigh of relief he didn't side with the coalition.

 

[moXJO]

Gillards next disaster, Wilkie, lets see how this one pans out. Abbott must be giving a sigh of relief he didn't side with the coalition.

Between Wilkie and the Greens, Labor looks like it's surrounded by Nazis. Well according to the media (suprise, suprise)