Budget 2017

[davidc4430]

wasnt it this government who said we had a huge debt and there needed to be huge spending cuts?

where is all the money comming from for all the sudden spending promises?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/story-streams/federal-budget-2017/2017-05-06/federal-budget-2017-cancer-f...

[lyndal1838]

What is the problem with random drug testing David?

There are plenty of businesses that have their employees tested for drugs and alcohol.   As far as I am concerned if anyone wants government money then they should be prepared to be tested.  And that goes for politicians as well.

My OH is regularly tested....he swears he has "random" tattooed on his forehead as he has already been tested 3 times this year.

Most of the large companies in his industry have mandatory testing in place.

[tezza2844]

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@village_person wrote:

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@tezza2844 wrote:

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who are these 870,000 non-citizens ?

Google not working?

About 870,000 non-citizens from the likes of Britain, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and the Middle East are claiming tens of thousands per year.

For example, those from Britain, Vietnam and China – countries which have no social security agreement with Australia - are claiming about $17,5000 each annually.

This figure equates to about 83 percent of the $15 billion bill every year.

In addition, The Australian reports that more than 150,000 non-citizens from countries which do have an agreement with Australia, like New Zealand and India, are claiming about $15,500 a year.

“At present, around 2.5 million (non-citizens) live in Australia and are eligible for welfare,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.

You want their names?

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Yep, but just their initials will do if it will take too long.

[tezza2844]

village_person wrote:

“At present, around 2.5 million (non-citizens) live in Australia and are eligible for welfare,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.

Ye gods, that's over 10% of our population. I think there some of the younger generation who should put away their Ipads etc and get to work on increasing the local born population ratio !

On 10 May 2017 at 05:58:40 PM (Canberra time), the resident population of Australia is projected to be:24,453,816

This projection is based on the estimated resident population at 30 September 2016 and assumes growth since then of:

one birth every 1 minute and 40 seconds,

one death every 3 minutes and 18 seconds,

a net gain of one international migration every 2 minutes and 18 seconds,

leading to an overall total population increase of one person every 1 minute and 22 seconds.

These assumptions are consistent with figures released in Australian Demographic Statistics, September Quarter 2016 (cat. no. 3101.0).

[chameleon54]

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@tezza2844 wrote:

@village_person wrote:

“At present, around 2.5 million (non-citizens) live in Australia and are eligible for welfare,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.

Ye gods, that's over 10% of our population. I think there some of the younger generation who should put away their Ipads etc and get to work on increasing the local born population ratio !

On 10 May 2017 at 05:58:40 PM (Canberra time), the resident population of Australia is projected to be:24,453,816

This projection is based on the estimated resident population at 30 September 2016 and assumes growth since then of:

one birth every 1 minute and 40 seconds,

one death every 3 minutes and 18 seconds,

a net gain of one international migration every 2 minutes and 18 seconds,

leading to an overall total population increase of one person every 1 minute and 22 seconds.

These assumptions are consistent with figures released in Australian Demographic Statistics, September Quarter 2016 (cat. no. 3101.0).

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A giant Ponzi scheme to keep the construction and retail industry ( political lobbyists ) happy.

Unfortunately we are already seeing the effects with stagnant wage growth and falling standards of living for the poorer members of our community. We cant keep on increasing Australias population indefinately.

[davidc4430]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

What is the problem with random drug testing David?

There are plenty of businesses that have their employees tested for drugs and alcohol.   As far as I am concerned if anyone wants government money then they should be prepared to be tested.  And that goes for politicians as well.

My OH is regularly tested....he swears he has "random" tattooed on his forehead as he has already been tested 3 times this year.

Most of the large companies in his industry have mandatory testing in place.

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the difference is that these drug tests are being implemented by our government, not as a tool to help people who are on drugs but as a tool to kick them off benifits.

if they had anounced they (the govt) would supply free treatment options to people on benifits the hopefully get them off drugs that would have been a better way to go, but doing the old 'we will make you have tests and if you fail we 'may' reduce or stop your money' anouncement. thats just threatening another group in society who have bugga all and most likely dont like or trust govt anyway.

and ok, now we start throwing people off benifits because they are using drugs, where do you think those people go?

they dont just dissapear, they prolly turn to crime. get caught and end up in the court/prison system.

well thats a great outcome isnt it? we cant lock up all the crims we have now!

[lyndal1838]

So what do you think happens to people in private industry who test positive to drugs?

The boss sure as h*ll does not give them a pat on the head and offer to pay for them to get treatment.

They get the boot and lose their income.

Why should it be any different for welfare recipients (who only "may" lose their benefits.)

[davidc4430]

Powerball: Unemployed Sydney man wins $50 million in lottery division one prize pool

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-12/powerball-lotto-unemployed-sydney-man-wins-$50-million/8520054

will he have to pay back all his benifits now, lets ask mal.

[davidc4430]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

So what do you think happens to people in private industry who test positive to drugs?

The boss sure as h*ll does not give them a pat on the head and offer to pay for them to get treatment.

They get the boot and lose their income.

Why should it be any different for welfare recipients (who only "may" lose their benefits.)

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yes, and they go sign on to the dole....the last resort catchment net for our 21st century society.

[davidc4430]

BTW, how would you feel about the idea that if you were a smoker you were told stop smoking or lose your job and not be elligible to unemployment?

or if you were over weight (obeise by definition) lost your job and also were exempt from unemployment?

just wondering.

[lyndal1838]

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@davidc4430 wrote:

BTW, how would you feel about the idea that if you were a smoker you were told stop smoking or lose your job and not be elligible to unemployment?

or if you were over weight (obeise by definition) lost your job and also were exempt from unemployment?

just wondering.

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I have never been a smoker and I am self employed and have been for over 30 years so really can't imagine...it is a hypothetical that I can't relate to....sorry.

I am overweight, but being self employed losing my job is highly unlikely....and I have not qualified for unemployment benefits for 10 years now as I am in my 70s.

If someone really wants to stop smoking they can.  My father decided out of the blue to give up smoking when the price of cigarettes went up in the budget.   He was in his late 50s and had smoked all his adult life.  He went cold turkey and never smoked again.