Diary of our stinking Govt.

[boris1gary]

As it's more than 100 days now, it has been suggested that a new thread was needed.  The current govt has been breaking promises and telling lies at a rate so fast it's hard to keep up.

This below is worrying, "independent" pffft, as if your own doctor is somehow what? biased, it's ridiculous. So far there is talk of only including people under a certain age 30-35, for now. Remember that if your injured in a car, injured at work or get ill, you too might need to go on the DSP. They have done a similar think in the UK with devastating consequences.

and this is the 2nd time recently where the Govt has referred to work as welfare???? So when you go to work tomorrow (or tuesday), just remember that's welfare.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-20/disability-pensioners-may-be-reassessed-kevin-andrews/5400598

Independent doctors could be called in to reassess disability pensioners, Federal Government says

The Federal Government is considering using independent doctors to examine disability pensioners and assess whether they should continue to receive payments.

Currently family doctors provide reports supporting claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).

But Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is considering a measure that would see independent doctors reassess eligibility.

"We are concerned that where people can work, the best form of welfare is work," Mr Andrews said at a press conference.

[fourandsixpants]

to polka re. Joe's personal slush fund

....pollies enjoy perks - even after leaving public office.

[monman12]

I notice B1G that in your C&P  from :

Peter MartinEconomics Editor, The Age

You are deliberately selective in your quotes, so I will present the URL which you have not:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/sunday-explainer-whats-worse-for-the-budget...

 I will also provide some other excerpts from the same article:

IS THE PENSION THE CAUSE OF JOE HOCKEY’S BUDGET WOES?

It doesn’t help. At present, the age pension accounts for 9.6 per cent of government payments. It is expected to climb to 10.6 per cent over the next four years but, after that, the Commission of Audit says it’ll  stay steady at 10.6 per cent  for the rest of the next decade.

SO IT’S NOT UNSUSTAINABLE?

Longer term it will climb much further. Over the next 40 years, the number of Australians aged 65 or over will double. And, on retirement, almost all will get at least a part pension or an associated benefit. Right now four out of every five retirees get a pension, and almost half the rest get a Commonwealth health card and seniors’ supplement.

IS GIVING THE HEALTH CARD TO SO MANY SENIORS EXPENSIVE?

You bet. According to the Treasurer, nearly 80 per cent of spending on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is directed to Australians on concession cards.

SRBA would certainly be impressed with the exclusions!

nɥºɾ

PS

"actually lakeland I am starting to feel a little envious of the wonderful ability to live in before last election land, it would be kind of pleasant"

So B1G, why include C&P material apropos  a process that commenced in 2010 and ceased in 2013?

[boris1gary]

May Day saw around 7000 march in Sydney, around 5000 in Melbourne. In my city there were about 500 who braved the rain and very cold conditions, but for me the big surprise was Brisbane. WOW.

  http://www.theage.com.au/queensland/25000-turn-out-for-labour-day-march-20140504-zr4a3.html 

25,000 turn out for Labour Day march

Queensland unions vowed to fight any move to lower the minimum wage, as an estimated 25,000 took part in the Labour Day march through Brisbane on Sunday.

Workers chanted slogans such as "Beat Back Abbott's Attack" and "We'll Be Sacking Campbell Newman" as they made their way from Wharf Street, down Wickham Street, onto St Paul's Terrace and into the RNA showgrounds at Bowen Hills.

The march was lead by the Queensland Teachers' Union to mark its 125th anniversary.

[boris1gary]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/disability-carers-concerned-about-cut-to-se...

Disability carers concerned about cut to services

Disability carers predict a sharp decline in their mental and physical health if services are cut according to a report by a leading welfare group, with continuing fears about the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The Wesley Mission, which provides a range of disability support programs, found that 82 per cent of informal carers said their mental health would worsen if access to services was reduced.

To be released on Tuesday, the report also found carers were concerned about a rise in stress levels and financial pressure if services such as respite care and home assistance were cut.

Wesley Mission chief executive Reverend Keith Garner said carers urgently needed assurance from the federal government that the implementation of the NDIS would continue as promised.

"This is a time of great uncertainty for people who are carers," Dr Garner said. "They are looking for the kind of assurances that only government can give."

About 2.7 million people provide informal care to people with a disability, usually family members and more than 300,000 people use disability support programs.

The Wesley report found carers were most concerned about a cut in services affecting their mental health but more than half said it would have an impact on their physical health as well.

"The are the backbone of our community," Rev Dr Garner said. "Without their care, the cost in terms of money and compassion would be absolutely enormous."

The Commission of Audit’s recommendation to slow down the introduction of the NDIS and exercise "budget control" to ensure the long-term viability of the program has fuelled fears in the sector about the level of commitment to the scheme despite the Council of Australian Governments agreeing to a full implementation.

NDIS campaign group, Every Australian Counts, said that claims of a cost blow-out were exaggerated with the individual funding allocation below the annual $35,000 package recommended by the Productivity Commission.

People with Disability Australia president Craig Wallace said that delaying the introduction NDIS would "plunge people with disability and service providers into a no man's land of uncertainty well into the next decade".

[boris1gary]

http://theaimn.com/2014/05/07/the-master-of-deception/

The master of deception

I’m growing increasingly and unbearably exhausted by the track one reckless and irresponsible man is taking our country.

The man: Tony Abbott.

A man I would consider to be one of the most destructive and deceptive politicians in our history. I’ll make my case and you can make your own judgment.

Tony Abbott is dangerous and completely captured by corporate interests.

He’s a populist politician with no policy interest or conviction. A “weathervane” that does and says whatever he thinks he needs to to get power.

It’s not just me saying this. Ask those who have seen him up close.

John Hewson, Malcolm Fraser, Paul Keating. The list goes on. Their views on record.

I’ve spoken to people who went to university with him. The stories are true. He’s a complete and utter disgrace.

I’m not sure if he knows what he’s doing but he must be removed democratically as soon as possible.

He is ripping up all the hard work of the last 40 or so years.

The progress that has made us the envy of the world.

Let’s go back a few steps.

Since he was first elected in the early 90s he has developed a reputation for being an aggressive brawler and his history up until his time as Opposition Leader serves as witness to this.

When he became Opposition Leader in 2009 his quest for power ramped up dramatically as he sensed his preordained destiny.

He lurched the Liberal Party to the far right and all of a sudden you are hard pressed to find a “small l Liberal” or moderate among them.

They all fled knowing Abbott’s Liberal Party was not the Liberal Party they once knew and loved.

[boris1gary]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-plan-to-strip-tasmania-forest-of-...

Coalition plan to strip Tasmania forest of World Heritage status was made without external review

The federal government's unprecedented bid to strip Tasmanian forests of World Heritage status was put together without any external advice, a Senate committee has heard.

The original case to list 170,000 hectares of mainly forested land as World Heritage emerged as part of the most comprehensive regional forests review ever undertaken in Australia, the committee was told.

The extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area gained the backing of the World Conservation Union and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and was unanimously approved by the World Heritage Committee in 2013.

A push by the Abbott government to excise 74,000 hectares of forest from that extension "flies in the face" of the findings of an expert Independent Verification Group set up to decide the fate of Tasmanian forests, IVG member Professor Brendan Mackey said.

[boris1gary]

http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/government-it/nbn-co-satellite-costs-blow-out-by-14-billion-20140508...

NBN Co satellite costs blow out by $1.4 billion

Electrical Trade Union national secretary Allen Hicks said Mr Turnbull had broken his promise that most Australians would have download speeds of 25 megabits a second by 2016. The ETU represents telecommunications workers.

"He is now attempting to shift the blame for the fact that hundreds of thousands of rural and regional consumers will also miss out," Mr Hicks said.

[izabsmiling]

Did you know that at least one of those business chiefs Tony Abbott took on his first visit to Indonesia (you know the trip we were expecting him to discuss Asylum seeker issues) is in  the IT sort of business?

The son's opinion on the NBN is interesting.He was unsure ..tending to think that the NBN would be at the expense of other posibilities/options.

Were these top business chiefs 'hand picked' by amount donated?

I hope that they all paid their own way and that it wasn't put on our tab?

The Asylum 'seeker crisis' was another 'creation' 

[boris1gary]

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/may/08/queensland-approves-one-worlds-biggest-coal-mines-au... 

Queensland approves construction of one of world's biggest coal mines

Australian state backs A$16.5bn project despite fears about damage to Great Barrier Reef from associated port development

[fourandsixpants]

this is disgusting news boris.

I am ashamed to be Australian