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.

[fourandsixpants]

......yep. I stated this many, many months ago actually.

That the LNP objective was to raise the GST (or attempt a mandate to force States to raise)....to either 12.5% or 15%.

I am sure they would like 15%......but probably have to settle on 12.5%

Good luck with either imo.

Roll on Double Dissolution Baby!

[aps1080]

And I will bet that IF the ALP got in, they will do exaxtly the same.

Or do you think otherwise ?

[cherry*135]

Jan 5, 2015

Acting Labor leader Tony Burke said: "This is Tony Abbott preparing the way for changes to the GST." 

"Thirty-three times Tony Abbott has said there would not be new or increased taxes, but you look at what is being flagged today. 

They aren't ruling out changes to the rate, they aren't ruling out extension into food, they aren't ruling out extension into education," he told reporters in Canberra.

SMH

[cherry*135]

ASIO reverses finding refugees pose a threat

A group of 10 refugees assessed by ASIO as threats to national security have been freed to live in the Australian community after the agency quietly reversed its decision.

Some of the group had been held in immigration detention more than five years without having been charged with a crime under a system civil liberty advocates have slammed as "completely unsatisfactory".

Most of the men have been released since August from a detention centre in Melbourne's north, where the majority of the remaining 34 refugees given a negative assessment by ASIO are still being held.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/asio-reverses-finding-refugees-pose-a-threat-20150110-12jebg.html

[debra9275]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/lastminute-medicare-change-evidence-of-abbott-...

Last-minute Medicare change evidence of Abbott government bungling, says Australian Medical Association

[boris1gary]

what a champ

[boris1gary]

so the whitehouse scholarship certainly paid off for the private sector 

[boris1gary]

http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2805192/medicare-changes-bad-medicine-says-north-nowra-gp...

Medicare changes bad medicine, says North Nowra GP

CHANGES to the federal government’s Medicare co-payment plans will place a hefty burden on general practitioners and risk discouraging medical graduates from going into general practice, especially in rural areas, according to a Shoalhaven doctor.

Dr Michele Browne said she was appalled by the government’s hastily announced changes to its highly unpopular $7 Medicare co-payment plan, part of its “barnacle-clearing” exercise at the end of 2014.

The government’s amended proposal, announced as “dropping the co-payment”, involves slashing $3.5 billion from general practice. “Having trumpeted the importance of providing good chronic care management and keeping patients out of hospital, the government has undermined its own policies by making access to highly trained GPs more difficult for patients,” Dr Browne said.

[fourandsixpants]

Tony’s lack of empathy was highlighted when he was given the role of infirmarian at the seminary, a job that involved supervising the medicine cabinet and ensuring that the ill were not forgotten in their rooms.

“My view was that I knew nothing about medicine and that those too sick to eat in the dining room ought to be in hospital.  Anyway, I thought, most were malingering. So I encouraged “self-service” of medicines and suggested that meals would be better fetched by the friends of the sick. Many deeply resented this disdain for college’s caring and communitarian ethos. And, I confess, I did not have the courage to refuse room service to members of the seminary staff.”

Inevitably, Tony fell out with seminary authority.  Fr Brian Wright said

“The study of theology did not capture Tony’s imagination.  He did passably well; not as well as his academic background may have indicated.  I do not recall that he ever talked about theology while at Manly.  His concern was with churchmanship, how the Catholic Church could better commend itself to the hearts of Australians; how the individual priest could enliven and uplift those who were turning away from uninspired ministers.”

In other words, he was interested in the politics and in attracting the swinging voters even then.  Fr Wright goes on to say

“Tony is inclined to score points, to skate over or hold back any reservations he might have about his case.”

What an astute observation about our current Prime Minister by a man who knew him well and watched him in action.

Seminary similarity by Kaye Lee.

[fourandsixpants]

The Cost of Unemployment

If you believe the present government regards unemployment and its younger brother, underemployment, as less important than a balanced budget, you are probably right. Certainly their approach to both would suggest as much........

The single most important thing a government can do is to ensure its workforce is fully engaged.

http://theaimn.com/cost-unemployment/

An excellent article