The Gillard Government

[IFocus]

(I said something positive about them...IF has probably just fainted, glass of water someone...)

Needed oxygen

There are some good points to the budget (a start on regaining middle class welfare and holding increase spending at 2%) but really its as brave as a minority government dare go and I am not a fan of relying / gambling on rising revenue to move back to a surplus i.e. hoping China doesn't fall over

BTW the WA Barnett coalition government has similar hopes regarding the state dept.

 

[trainspotter]

No mention of the carbon tax revenue in the forward estimates?

 

[trainspotter]

The hit on middle-class welfare, part of a $22 billion cut to spending, will be hardest felt by those described by economists as being in "mortgage poverty."

They are families who will lose most of last year's tax cuts through the $750 flood levy, face a possible rates rise next month and will bear the brunt of the carbon tax.

They also face the possibility of a private health insurance rebate means test later this year and rising electricity prices.

Introduction of paid paternity leave will also be delayed by six months, until January 2013.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/federa...et/story-fn84fgcm-1226053705187#ixzz0nbad1T9w

 

[medicowallet]

The hit on middle-class welfare, part of a $22 billion cut to spending, will be hardest felt by those described by economists as being in "mortgage poverty."

Who cares?

Drop the price of the house $10k, pay the agents fees of $10k and walk away from your stresses.

Then builders and land developers will need to drop their offerings by $20k in addition to the "incentives" currently on offer.

Plenty of sunshine and lollipops to go around from Wayne Swann.

 

[IFocus]

No mention of the carbon tax revenue in the forward estimates?

Quoting Hockey and Abbott is fraught at the best of times.

 

[trainspotter]

Quoting Hockey and Abbott is fraught at the best of times.

Ummmmmmmmmm ....... nope ...... doing my own synopsis thanks IFocus. Nuffin to do with those squawk mongers.

The greatest moral and environmental issue of our generation (a' la Kevin Rudd) is soon to be implemented by our encumbent minority Guvmint onto our great brown land and not even a peep from the media?

Stange would you not think?

 

[Julia]

Agree on both counts, Julia. The set top box is wide open for rorting, IMO.

And a national Denticare scheme would be a good move. I have read quite a few articles over the years that link poor dental health to other health factors including heart attacks. Also, people with poor dental health often have difficulty eating good nutritional food and that in itself leads to further health problems.

So, it would surely be prudent to have dental health in good order which may reduce even higher medical costs through medicare.

Someone from the dentists' professional body was on the radio today making the totally reasonable point that if he had an abscess on his backside, the medicare system would leap into whatever action is required to treat this, but if a similar condition were to occur in his mouth, he is eligible for no assistance whatsoever.
How utterly illogical this is!

They also face the possibility of a private health insurance rebate means test later this year and rising electricity prices.

Yes, good reminder. What happened to the means testing of private health cover? They had suggested this was going to be part of this Budget.
Re rising electricity prices, my heart fails to bleed on this score for those with an income of more than $150,000 in comparison to the same rises faced by people on pensions of about $17,000 p.a.

 

[IFocus]

Ummmmmmmmmm ....... nope ...... doing my own synopsis thanks IFocus. Nuffin to do with those squawk mongers.

The greatest moral and environmental issue of our generation (a' la Kevin Rudd) is soon to be implemented by our encumbent minority Guvmint onto our great brown land and not even a peep from the media?

Stange would you not think?

From what I have seen and read (I am a fence sitter regarding the tax as its a transitional to a ETS same as Abbotts direct action policy) its at best neutral to the bottom line budget wise how it impacts on the economy is a different question.

 

[medicowallet]

Someone from the dentists' professional body was on the radio today making the totally reasonable point that if he had an abscess on his backside, the medicare system would leap into whatever action is required to treat this, but if a similar condition were to occur in his mouth, he is eligible for no assistance whatsoever.
How utterly illogical this is!

Did he also mention how much a doctor would charge per hour (10 years minimum training) vs how much a dentist would charge per hour (5 years training)

When the government can get dentist services for an appropriate cost, I am sure that they will fund them.

 

[sptrawler]

Did he also mention how much a doctor would charge per hour (10 years minimum training) vs how much a dentist would charge per hour (5 years training)

When the government can get dentist services for an appropriate cost, I am sure that they will fund them.

Good point medicowallet, how much money can someone charge for a working knowledge of 32 teeth in an upper and lower piece of bone.
That is a 34 piece structure, that can fit in the palm of your hand.
They have been around for a long time and just about everything is known about them.
So why the stupid prices to work on them?

 

[Logique]

I think the public/private health system balance is about right, for this reason I'm not in favour of means-testing the private health insurance rebate.

There needs to be a close analysis of how many medium to high income participants would abandon private health insurance if their rebate was means-tested away.

A disproportionate abandoning of private health insurance by these people would achieve little, other than to flood an already stretched public system, and place upward pressure on premiums for those left behind.

The whole idea of the rebates was to take the pressure off the public system, and what would be the point if the dollars saved via means-testing - then had be spent on propping up the public system? The overall spend would be the same, so what would be achieved in real terms.

 

[trainspotter]

Did he also mention how much a doctor would charge per hour (10 years minimum training) vs how much a dentist would charge per hour (5 years training)

When the government can get dentist services for an appropriate cost, I am sure that they will fund them.

Dont get me started on veterinarians.

 

[noco]

Money seems to be no problem for this Labor Government in their attempts to get Kevin 11 a seat on the UN. Just keep borrowing $140,000,000 a day and farm it out in Foreign aid to countries who don't even like us. Kevin11 needs thier vote.
Don't worry about the pensioners and homeless who are living in cardboard boxes. Kevvie is more important


http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...-rudds-un-bid/comments-e6freooo-1226054357319

 

[drsmith]

Wayne Swan a little nervous.

 

[medicowallet]

Good point medicowallet, how much money can someone charge for a working knowledge of 32 teeth in an upper and lower piece of bone.
That is a 34 piece structure, that can fit in the palm of your hand.
They have been around for a long time and just about everything is known about them.
So why the stupid prices to work on them?

I am not questioning their skills, just what they charge.

 

[Knobby22]

I am not questioning their skills, just what they charge.

Aren't Australian dentists the dearest in the world? If GPs were paid commensuarately it would be $120 a visit.

 

[namrog]

Unless it's an emergency, anyone that gets serious dental work done in Australia need their heads examined, (well their mouths at least) ...

I know of several people who go to the places like Thailand, have the work done by very qualified and competent people , for one third of the price, holiday for 3 weeks and allowing for and including the airfares are no worse off ...

Dentists do get over paid here, but in fairness it's not a plesant job, I certainly wouldn't do it, couldn't handle bending over in awkward positions and having to work on some dirty old smelly breathed individual, I'd rather be a plumber at least you get to be outdoors....

 

[Glen48]

The dentist I use was trained in New York she has an X ray machine which moves around your head and takes a full 180 shot of all your teeth, I did not see any machine like this in OZ, to replace a damaged crown she charges $25 about $100 cheaper than OZ 2 yrs ago.
There is a dentist on very corner here with the best equipment money can buy as soon as possible I will be getting an implant replaced.

If these dentist were allowed to move in to OZ dental fees would make your jaw drop.

 

[Knobby22]

The dentist I use was trained in New York she has an X ray machine which moves around your head and takes a full 180 shot of all your teeth, I did not see any machine like this in OZ, to replace a damaged crown she charges $25 about $100 cheaper than OZ 2 yrs ago.
There is a dentist on very corner here with the best equipment money can buy as soon as possible I will be getting an implant replaced.

If these dentist were allowed to move in to OZ dental fees would make your jaw drop.

I've got a daughter who will need braces one day AND I have friends who live in Manila (they teach at the international school). Sounds like this is the way to go. The orthondontists here will get narky though.

 

[tothemax6]

Good point medicowallet, how much money can someone charge for a working knowledge of 32 teeth in an upper and lower piece of bone.
That is a 34 piece structure, that can fit in the palm of your hand.
They have been around for a long time and just about everything is known about them.
So why the stupid prices to work on them?

And a guy who drives a truck around a mine all day laughs at the years the dentist spent in training to get the same money.
The price is the price, regardless of how much the job description can be simplified. If you guys thinks its so easy, become a dentist and undercut their 'stupid' prices.