on 20-04-2014 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 22-09-2014 09:43 AM
yes, lol
the budget changes will be interesting though Hockey says "they are not a backdown"
let's hope its a bit more realistic and honest this time
on 22-09-2014 10:23 AM
on 22-09-2014 10:30 AM
yes, I know the LNP mantra
it's always someone else's fault
on 22-09-2014 12:09 PM
"yes, I know the LNP mantra
it's always someone else's fault"
With the "Circus" and the 2 ring-leaders there was no need for the Libs to utter a sound, because Poor Me and Rudd were always
on stage left!.
Nowadays the ALP have passed the baton of Opposition Leader over to Palmer, whilst the ALP leader, ?????, is out there somewhere.
on 22-09-2014 12:15 PM
just my opinion but I think we have an even bigger circus in town now
on 22-09-2014 12:55 PM
A circus led by children!!!
on 22-09-2014 01:54 PM
LOL
11:27am
Why was the ASIO legislation put off for debate today?
Brandis blames Labor.
Canberra Times
on 22-09-2014 01:56 PM
12:26pm: Also listed for debate this week is the government's social services budget bills.
They are two bills that contain a whole bunch of measures - some very controversial - announced in May.
This includes raising the pension age to 70, indexing pensions at a lower rate and making young people wait six months for the dole.
Given the hearty lack of Senate support for some of these measures, what is the government going to do here?
Laura Tingle reports in the Australian Financial Review today that the government appears set to split its reforms, only presenting those measures to the Senate that will be able to pass.
A spokeswoman for Kevin Andrews said yesterday that the Social Services Minister would be talking to the Senate crossbench - including PUP - this week. Talks with Labor are also planned.
Watch. This. Space. Cadets.
on 22-09-2014 02:26 PM
didn't they promise not to make cuts at the ABC originally??
on 22-09-2014 02:34 PM
Questions arise over Christopher Pyne's taxpayer-funded trip with his wife to London and Rome
The Abbott government is facing more scrutiny over travel entitlements, with fresh documents revealing Education Minister Christopher Pyne and his wife had a taxpayer-funded $30,000 trip to London and Rome in April.
The trip included taxpayers being billed $1352 for Mr Pyne to "day let" a room at a swish London hotel before he and his wife, Carolyn, flew back to Australia later that same day and more than $2000 for VIP services at Heathrow Airport.
Under the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's travel guidelines, a minister's spouse is not normally allowed to go on trips and are only entitled to if they have an invitation from a foreign government or host organisation and an official program of events separate to that of the minister.
"It is not sufficient to include the spouse in the minister's existing program of meetings. The travel must be justified and defensible," the guidelines state.
The Department of Education has revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request that it has no documents showing a foreign government invitation for Mrs Pyne nor an official program of events for her.
But documents published by the Finance Department show Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin approved Mrs Pyne's travel because of the "significant representational aspect of the travel". ???
A letter from Ms Credlin to Mr Pyne's office approving the trip also notes that the attendance of Mrs Pyne was expected to cost the Commonwealth no more than a business class airfare for the minister. As a minister, Mr Pyne is entitled to fly business class on official overseas travel.
Mr Pyne flew business class from Adelaide to Sydney but switched to economy for the rest of the journey to London.
Documents show taxpayers were also billed $2060 for Mr Pyne to use the "VIP Suite" at Heathrow for his arrival and departure. This service involves being greeted by airport staff on the plane, limousine transfers and the use of a private lounge where security and check-in procedures take place away from other travellers.
Two thousands dollars was also allocated for Mr Pyne's travel while in London and taxpayers were also charged for scones, croissants and coffees, as well as meals.
The minister's trip came two months after Treasurer Joe Hockey declared "the age of entitlement" to be over and weeks before the federal budget made significant cuts to education and health spending.