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.

[cherry*135]

paintsew - the Luxury Car Tax rate is 33%.

If I buy a car for $59 999, I pay no LCT.

If another person buys a car for $120,000, they pay the LCT on the excess over the threshold  which will be $60 000 (approx).

[fourandsixpants]

okay am3.....I will have to go back and reread . Cheers

[boris1gary]

This kind of attitude is indicative of what the govt thinks about the unemployed and unemployment...there are more than 700,000 people out of work (not to mention the under employed) in this country but all we get from this mob is the blame game. 

Take any job, Kevin Andrews tells young facing no dole for six months

Young unemployed people facing the prospect of receiving no dole for six months should simply take a job they do not really want or do a course, according to Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews.

In an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Andrews also foreshadowed sweeping changes to Australia's welfare system, highlighting that about 50 different government payments are now under review.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/take-any-job-kevin-andrews-tells-young-facing-...

Unemployed have 'no right to hold out for dream job': PM Tony Abbott

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/unemployed-have-no-right-to-hold-out-for-dream-job-pm-tony-abbott-201...

[boris1gary]

We should be keeping an eye on this.....

  What are youse thinking?

Last week, the Australian Industry Group called for the federal government to “significantly” reduce the standard of English required for 457 visas. Their succinct argument was that demanding a high standard of English prohibits employers from hiring the best overseas workers. The stringent standards to which they refer, introduced by the Howard government, also neglect the (apparently) multilingual nature of many Australian workplaces.

But here’s the contradiction. Late last year, the Australian Industry Group – the same outfit – released a survey of 400 companies that found English literacy was woeful to such an extent that safety was a serious issue in many workplaces. Nine out of ten employers reported negative impacts on their business arising from the poor standards of language, literacy and numeracy.

So, in the space of just six months, the AI Group has tried to convince us that English language standards in Australia are both too high and too low. Well, which is it? I’m inclined to believe the latter.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/managing/blogs/work-in-progress/what-are-youse-thinking-2014052...

[fourandsixpants]

to OP

Are we under threat from an army of the disabled? Not quite

Despite the Daily Telegraph’s hyper-ventilation over disability support pension recipients, the most important number is trending downward. Economist Tom Westland reports.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2014/05/23/are-we-under-threat-from-an-army-of-the-disabled-not-quite/

[boris1gary]

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2249429.htm

Budget cuts lead to ANSTO job losses

MARK COLVIN: The body which runs Australia's only nuclear reactor is undergoing something just short of an organisational meltdown over the Federal Budget. 

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation has lost $16-million over the next four years.

Today, it announced a restructure and the loss of 10 per cent of its workforce. ANSTO's budget was cut alongside that of the CSIRO. 

KAREN BARLOW: What it the effect of this number of staff; it's 10 per cent of the workforce? 

RON CAMERON: Well, it means we have to reduce programs and stop working in a number of areas. It means we have to look for efficiencies in our operations. 

But clearly we will maintain our strong focus on safety security and compliance with regulations, which has always been our key priority.

KAREN BARLOW: There is concern that vital nuclear research will be lost. 

Nuclear physicist, Professor Leslie Kemeny:

LESLIE KEMENY: There are a lot of excellent scientists there operating machinery connected with measuring neutron diffraction, basic physics, which can be associated with the OPAL reactor.

Environmental scientists who are looking at radio isotope uptake in plant and animal life. Those people who are helping to manufacture and distribute radioisotopes for our hospitals, I'm not sure how that culling would take place and I’m glad it is not my responsibility.

[boris1gary]

Cuts to aged care to rake in $2.5bn

A SWATH of cuts to aged care over the next decade is expected to deliver more than $2.5 billion in savings.

More than $1.7bn will be slashed from home-based aged-care services and the axing of a payroll tax concession for nursing homes will save a further $650 million.

A $1.5bn scheme to fund wage increases for the aged-care workforce will also be scrapped, but the money will be redirected into boosting subsidies to aged-care providers by 2.4 per cent.

The government will also increase by 20 per cent a viability supplement aimed at bolstering the finances of struggling regional aged-care homes.

The $1.7bn cut to the Commonwealth Home Support Program will reduce its annual growth to 3.5 per cent rather than 6 per cent, but this spending curb will not apply until 2018.

The services provided under the scheme include Meals on Wheels, respite care, cleaning, maintenance and other in-home services for elderly Australians living in their homes.

[fourandsixpants]

..."what was most glaringly absent from the Budget vis-a-vis structural reform was any effort to make Australia more competitive..........

The core of the structural adjustment confronting Australia has not yet even been mentioned."

ref. The Budget Failed to deliver structural reform

http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2014/05/the-budget-failed-to-deliver-structural-reform/

[monman12]

Until June 2008, the Luxury Car Tax rate was set at 25%. In May 2008, the Treasurer Wayne Swan announced that the Luxury Car Tax rate would increase by 8% (to 33%) from the 1st of July 2008.
This remains.
B1G "I admit that my mathematical skills leave a lot to be desired but this does look like around 10% (the amount of LCT actually paid to the ATO) to me"
In the low value luxury car you chose B1G it is 10%,  now do the maths  covering a luxury  car of say $250K and above.

I question P007 because a lot of what he posts is questionable, however as P007 stated definitively:
"Goodness once the rich had to pay a luxury tax of 33% on their BMWs. Now it’s 10%"" I want P007 to prove it.

Perhaps P007 or yourself could  show (for the same value vehicle) at what in time (with references) the LCT dropped so much,  or using your example, backtrack and indicate when "Tim's" car LCT would have been 33%.

 nɥºɾ

[boris1gary]

---

@monman12 wrote:

Until June 2008, the Luxury Car Tax rate was set at 25%. In May 2008, the Treasurer Wayne Swan announced that the Luxury Car Tax rate would increase by 8% (to 33%) from the 1st of July 2008.
This remains.
B1G "I admit that my mathematical skills leave a lot to be desired but this does look like around 10% (the amount of LCT actually paid to the ATO) to me"
In the low value luxury car you chose B1G it is 10%,  now do the maths  covering a luxury  car of say $250K and above.

I question P007 because a lot of what he posts is questionable, however as P007 stated definitively:
"Goodness once the rich had to pay a luxury tax of 33% on their BMWs. Now it’s 10%"" I want P007 to prove it.

Perhaps P007 or yourself could  show (for the same value vehicle) at what in time (with references) the LCT dropped so much,  or using your example, backtrack and indicate when "Tim's" car LCT would have been 33%.

 nɥºɾ

---

I really don't care monman12 but thanks for posting.