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.

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-23/australia-to-buy-58-more-joint-strike-fighters/5405236

labor had already ordered something like 14 of these jets, abbott purchased an extra 58 at a cost of 12 billion.

just  prior to his govt  informing us that we had a budget emergency , had to fo the heavy lifting, tighten our belts etc. etc

labor didn't oppose it because they probably knew we didn't have a budget emergency at that time

[debra9275]

I would assert that the public are not totally stupid

[polksaladallie]

Apparently some government members are planning to vote with Labor over these cuts.  This week in parliament will be interesting

JOE Hockey’s nastiest budget cuts to the aged pension and family tax benefits will be put on ice in a stunning back down set to blow a $9 billion hole in the budget.

The Senate will also block plans to cut the aged pension, reforms that have prompted a furious campaign by angry seniors.

The proposal to change the indexation of the aged pension was not due to commence until 2017 but prompted an furious backlash from retirees. Labor had claimed the indexation cuts would have slashed the value of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Veterans’ pension and Carer Payment by $80 a week within ten years.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/budget-backdown-treasurer-joe-hockeys-plan-to-slash-aged-p...

[cherry*135]

Trouble in the Abbott camp

Retired top army officer quits working for David Johnston after only three weeks

September 21, 2:32 pm

A retired army officer has quit working for Defence Minister David Johnston just three weeks after being hired to advise on a review into the nation's long-term defence policy.

Retired major-general Jim Molan, who helped the coalition author its policy to stop the flow of asylum seeker boats, has made it clear the minister, David Johnston, was the cause of his sudden resignation.

General Molan told the Ten Network he "accepted a request" from the Defence Minister to advise on the Defence white paper, to be published next year, which helps inform the next decade's defence policy and strategy.

"It took me three weeks, unfortunately, to realised that this was not feasible," he told Channel Ten's The Bolt Report. The retired major-general made it clear that that no one in the force or the Defence Department was to blame for his departure.

"It seems to me that you're narrowing your criticism down to the minister, David Johnston," said host Andrew Bolt.

"That's a conclusion you can come to and that's something I would discuss in private with others," Mr Molan replied.

He then sent up the government's secretive communications tactics involved with Operation Sovereign Borders and added: "I would say that it is probably an on-water activity".

General Molan was despatched as the government's envoy on border protection to Jakarta last year. The minister on Sunday declined to comment.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/retired-top-army-officer-quits-working-for-dav...

[cherry*135]

Polkas - this week will be an interesting one in Parliament

September 20, 2014

Clive Palmer says PUP will oppose all budget measures on social services

Clive Palmer has declared the Palmer United team will oppose "everything" in the government's social services budget bills that are due to be debated in Parliament this week, setting his party on another collision course with the Coalition in the Senate.

The bills contain some of the budget's most controversial measures, including the government's plans to make people under 30 wait six months before they can receive the dole, indexing pensions at a lower rate and raising the pension age to 70.

The bills will also make changes to family payments, limiting Family Tax Benefit Part B to families with children under six years of age instead of 18, and reducing the income test for the primary earner from $150,000 to $100,000.

The passage of the social services budget bills will rely on the PUP block, including Motoring Enthusiast senator Ricky Muir, given vocal opposition from Labor, the Greens and other crossbenchers to many of the measures in the package, including the wait for the dole, changes to pensions and family payments.

Mr Palmer told Fairfax Media his party would not support anything in the bills.

"We're just against everything," he said. "We will be voting negative to the lot."

When asked if he had had discussions about the social security package, he said it was "up to the government" to organise a meeting.

The Australian Council of Social Service has called on the Senate to "reject outright" the proposal to extend the waiting period for young people to access Newstart or Youth Allowance.

"Living on between $29 and $37 a day on Youth Allowance and Newstart isn't easy – being forced to live on absolutely nothing would be devastating and will do nothing to bring young people closer to work," the council's chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, said.

Dr Goldie said making young people wait for six months, or even one month, "will only cause hardship and homelessness".

On Sunday, a spokeswoman for Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews said he had already met with Mr Palmer and PUP senator Jacqui Lambie over the social services bills and would continue to meet with them this week.

Mr Andews is also due to meet with Labor when Parliament returns.

The spokeswoman would not give any details about the government's negotiating position.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-says-pup-will-oppose-all-budget-m...

[cherry*135]

[debra9275]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-demands-detail-on-foreign-fighters-bill-...

Brandis claims the new terrism laws have full support, but that's not true. The opposition hasn't even seen a draft of the plan yet

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-22/thousands-march-in-new-york-climate-change-protest/5759184

good to see so many people DO care and are aware of climate change

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-21/howard-embarrassed-by-intelligence-that-iraq-had-wmds/5759132

did anyone see the howard interview last night. We missed it

nothing was his fault (apparently) 

[cherry*135]

No, I didn't see the Howard interview.

I did wonder if the Labor Govt was still in power in Aust when looking at the thread titles on CS today... Gillard this, Rudd that.
They must love 'em so much they can't stop posting about them.

Maybe they are trying for a distraction from the budget measures due to be 'dumped' by the Senate this week which will be big news.