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.

[icyfroth]

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@j*oono wrote:

It's dismal isn't it.  We now have the most powerless government ever in Australia with the most unpopular primeminister of all time and a treasurer that can't even speak in public anymore because he got everything so wrong.

Why did anyone vote for this government when Tony Abbott told us years ago that he can't be relied on to tell the truth in the heat of the moment?

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There was no other choice.

It would have been unthinkable to have the previous 2 clowns for another term.

Even if Mr Shorten gets in next term, it won't be on his own merits. It'll be because the Aus voter has become disillusioned with Mr Abbott's government and see themselves with nowhere else to go.

[polksaladallie]

Senior Fairfax Correspondent Paul McGeough says he was deeply affected by the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, after it was struck by a missile during the separatist war in Ukraine.

He spent weeks at the crash site covering the story, and struck upon the idea that perhaps a memento of sunflower seeds, from the fields where the plane crashed, could be given to the families of the 38 Australian victims who perished.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/sunflower-seeds-for-mh17/5992360

McGeough contacted Abbott with the plan to buy the entire crop of a farmer, thinking that it would be easier to circumvent customs etc, if a government was involved.  Abbott did not acknowledge the request.  So he went ahead and gathered heads and is in the process of distributing the seeds to families here and in other countries involved.

Why did Abbott refuse?  Because there was nothing in it for him, of course.

[aps1080]

"thinking that it would be easier to circumvent customs etc, "

Great, now we have journos thinking they can circumvent our bio security laws.

Even the Gov't and Government agencies can't by pass them on entry to Aus.

"deeply affected"

More like he thought he could get some good stories out of it, maybe even a front page and a Walkley Award !

[polksaladallie]

The seeds are in Australia, so boo.

He's already won that award.  Do some reading.

[aps1080]

Then let's hope he declared them like he should.

BTW, why is it up to the Gov't to help a Commercial Journo with his whim of an idea ??????

Even if he sent them back on a C-17, they would be under far more scrutiny than bringing them in as a civilian on a civilian aircraft.

[polksaladallie]

Perhaps he should have temporarily changed his name to Devine.  Then you would be bowing.

[aps1080]

I don't bow to anyone.

Well, except the Queen if I was ever to meet her !

[debra9275]

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@j*oono wrote:

It's dismal isn't it.  We now have the most powerless government ever in Australia with the most unpopular primeminister of all time and a treasurer that can't even speak in public anymore because he got everything so wrong.

Why did anyone vote for this government when Tony Abbott told us years ago that he can't be relied on to tell the truth in the heat of the moment?

---

i think a number of reasons Joono, we were pretty much due for a change of govt (historically we do that). they all go stale when they've been in power for too long and sometimes a new govt can bring some new ideas.... not this one though.

the public were fed a massive  campaign of hatred starting with abbotts little 'ditch the witch protest" the murdoch press focused on julia's carbon tax "lie" and as someone back there said, people had forgotten what the libs were really like.  we voted for who murdoch wanted us to vote for..... kick this mob out..... unbelievable headlines and murdoch ran a very strong scare campaign. The Labor party cracked under the pressure and had a leadership change

although I didn't vote for them, I thought that this was a perfect opportunity for the LNP to prove that they had changed & to prove that they don't only look after the big end of town....... only they haven't changed,  they are worse than ever, as we all found out a couple of months in.

I didn't vote for them because though abbott had lots of bluster and bravado, I noticed that every time he was asked about policies before the election, he refused to say what exactly they were, all he divulged were a couple of slogans... stop the boats,,, ditch carbon tax.... and I wondered why, what policies are they hiding?

I do not expect this govt to last more than one term. and if they were to call a DD which they won't as the libs know they have NO chance of winning that...  ( just remembering abbott threatening to call a DD early on lol, he will never do it   )

Why did anyone vote for this government when Tony Abbott told us years ago that he can't be relied on to tell the truth in the heat of the moment?

I think people just forgot what he was in the heat of the campaign of murdoch hatred Joono

[***super_nova***]

Tony Abbott achieves the impossible: unity among economists

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/23/tony-abbott-achieves-the-impossible-unity-among...

The Abbott government’s agenda has been driven by three major claims, all of them economic in nature. Let’s see how economists view these three themes:

1) There is a budget emergency

Number of economists who agree: zero

2) The federal government has a debt crisis

Number of economists who agree: zero

3) Carbon pricing is an economic wrecking ball

Number of economists who agree: zero

The above represents a very slight exaggeration. You can find people with some economics qualifications who agree with the government but, without exception, they either work for the Coalition or for some entity with ideological motives (like the IPA or News Corp).

[aps1080]

Contraception linked to the dole ! NO contraception, no dole

Interesting concept.

Can't wait for Sarah Hanson Youngto get on this band wagon

"suggests there should be “no taxpayer inducement to have children”."

“But the idea that someone can have the taxpayer, as of right, fund the choice to have a child is repugnant.”

“But no one should enter parenthood while on a benefit.”

The ex-Minister claims “it is better to avoid having children until such time as parents can afford them”.