on โ20-04-2014 10:21 PM
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.
on โ19-08-2014 04:09 AM
ref:
Aussie Politicians and their $300 Million Property Portfolio
http://blog.australiaboomtobust.com/2014/08/propertied-federal-political-class/

The trends in the data suggest a sizeable majority of federal politicians have a vested interest in maintaining high housing prices, particularly since most have mortgages over their own investments. A fall in housing prices may cause many politicians to fall into negative equity, providing a strong incentive for politicians to enact legislation which has helped fuel a housing bubble, enriching owners.
funny or coincidence.....not! How all sides of politics are avoiding the issue of house prices and affordability of a suburban family home in Australia.
They have ALL pushed through Visa 188 - the significant investor visa +sub-class permanent visas for foreign investors who have $5,000,000 etc.....this visa carp is a going concern until sometime in 2015.
Then there's 190,000 places available for these investor visa foreigners where under a further offer called PROGRAMME 888, these same foreign investors can 'skip' all the usual steps required to become an Australian......
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
We need good successful people in government.
Itโs all about conflicted interests at the policy coal face.
The question is will these people act in self interest or the national interest?
We have written off a generation of kids to ever own property unless they get major help from parents.
Where are the solutions?
http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2014/08/aussie-politicians-300m-property-portfolio/
on โ19-08-2014 08:41 AM
......because of the opinion polls. If this new government were enjoying a routine honeymoon, if they were consistently ahead of the opposition instead of behind, the pressure would be directed to the ALP instead. Bill Shortenโs leadership would be a topic of discussion.
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on โ19-08-2014 12:35 PM
Blame, the only thing the LNP seem to do.....
Joe Hockey blames misreporting for furore over poor people and driving comments
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/joe-hockey-blames-misreporting-for-furore-over...
on โ19-08-2014 12:42 PM
on โ19-08-2014 12:42 PM
Solar farm abandoned amid uncertainty over renewable energy target
Renewable energy target changes 'amount to economic vandalism'
โHow does this fit with the PMโs often-stated position that Australia is open for business?,โ energy company boss asks
https://www.action.org.au/news/protect-renewable-energy-target
on โ19-08-2014 12:47 PM

on โ19-08-2014 12:48 PM
this is another story I came across yesterday about donations to the LNP
http://www.afr.com/p/national/lnp_supporter_paul_darrouzet_granted_H56FCT5lzRinFun8UfGHiK
on โ19-08-2014 12:57 PM
Debra, another disgrace in a long,long line. Scary when you think what kind of state we will be in by the time we get rid of these environmental vandals.
Government scientists 'warned against dumping' in Great Barrier Reef park
Scientists were opposed to dumping millions of tonnes of dredged sediment but they were overruled
The governmentโs marine scientists warned against dumping millions of tonnes of sediment inside the Great Barrier Reefโs marine park, only to be overruled, according to a former government official.
Jon Day, who was until recently a senior director at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, said the decision to dredge and dump 5m tonnes of seabed to expand the Abbot Point port in Queensland would prove harmful to the reef.
Day told ABCโs Four Corners on Monday that dredged spoil was having โadverse impactsโ upon the reef.
โWeโve seen that elsewhere and there are alternatives,โ he said. โSure, they may cost more, but again weโre dealing with a world heritage area, the most important world heritage area on the planet, a magnificent marine protected area that the world wants us to protect.
โOur own legislative mandate says โthe long-term protection and conservation of the valuesโ and weโre not doing that.โ
According to internal documents obtained under freedom of information law, scientists at the GBRMPA were opposed to dumping dredged sediment within the marine park, with one calling it โenvironmentally and socially unacceptableโ.
โThe outlook report makes it very clear that the condition of the reef is declining. If the reef is not able to cope with the current level of impacts, whatโs the rationale for allowing further impacts to take place?
โClimate change is the biggest threat and so logically to improve the prospects of the reef, you shouldnโt approve the opening of one of the worldโs largest coalmines.
โItโs also not entirely logical to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce sediment run-off from land and then turn around and allow millions of tonnes of it to be dumped directly into the reefโs marine park.โ
on โ19-08-2014 01:04 PM
exactly Boris, it may only be a short term, but it's long term damage
โ19-08-2014 01:06 PM - edited โ19-08-2014 01:10 PM
ref http://www.afr.com/p/national/lnp_supporter_paul_darrouzet_granted_H56FCT5lzRinFun8UfGHiK
Money is money IMO.....and this amount though large to me (who counts my money before I go food shopping) is nothing to these millionaire/billionaire types.
They can give their money away to whomever they want, whenever they want.
Donations to political parties should be legislated, centralised, regulated and mightily transparent IMO.
As for "dredging at Abell Point was first approved under the Labor government in 2003 and maintenance dredging had been standard practice for many years....." article attempts to point the pinky at ALP, linking these different areas being dredged(and for diff purposes) and incorrectly blaming ALP for actively approving the dredging of The Great Barrier Reef .
Compare mining approval and 'look see' licences around this area skyrocketed once LNP got it. I believe when ALP were in/previous govt approvals were 600 for a whole year.....then went to 1600 in a space of 8 months for LNP ......
"โAmendments to this environmental approval were made by departยญmental officers and were subject to time frames set out under the Environยญmental Protection Act. The Minister had no involvement in the approval process,โ the spokeswoman said..... "
He may not have had involvement but you can bet your shiny yellow submarine the Minister was acutely aware of the approval process and developments and was informally kept up to date ![]()