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.

[aps1080]

"as the dust settles it will be time to start working in New South Wales."

Labor and Clover Moore, what a team

[debra9275]

she seems quite popular except with the rabid right wing

i thought this was pretty funny

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/13/compulsory-voting-for-sydney-businesses-makes-a...

The decision by the NSW state government to automatically enrol Sydney businesses and compel vote in city council elections might seem like a petty, parochial matter. At a basic level, it could look like a political game arranged to get rid of the current mayor. The full details of the arrangements are yet to emerge, but on the basis of yesterday’s news it seems that non-resident businesses owners will have to vote; residents with businesses will have to vote more than once; and presumably those with several rate paying businesses will get a vote for each one. Clover Moore’s decade-long administration will very probably come to an end as a result.

While the political right once needed to invoke totalitarianism and spies to fiddle the political system, now, apparently, the world-historical danger that requires an effective gerrymander in favour of business is bike lanes and public art.
No one really believes the justifications that have been trotted out by premier Mike Baird, and nor are they expected to. The players know that their explanations misdescribe the underlying political and social realities, they know we know, they mouth the words anyway, and we too-readily accept that this is just what politics is.

pretty desperate lol

[polksaladallie]

---

@debra9275 wrote:

are you a fan of sponge bob?? my daughter used to be too

---

I thought that was the finance minister happy with all the $20 payments he has to play with.  Same square head.

[cherry*135]

My niece's children like spongebob, they are pre-school age.

I went to Dr this morning. Free visit. Nice new bulk bill clinic. I am not sure that I would want to pay $20 for the less than 6 mins I was in the consulting room.

[debra9275]

actually, now that you mention it Polks... I can see the similarity

Am my daughter used to get a birthday card from sponge bob every year until she was a bout 12  

[monman12]

Yes I am a fan of Spongebob and the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom .  I also love Minuscule:

nɥºɾ

[debra9275]

I agree MM12 minuscule is very good

[***super_nova***]

---

@debra9275 wrote:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-13/governments-medicare-rebates-will-put-an-end-to-bulk-billing/6...

Doctors say Federal Government cuts to Medicare will put an end to bulk billing and put pressure on hospital emergency departments.

From Monday changes to the Medicare rebate will see people pay $20 more for some visits to the doctor.

The rebate on a GP visit of less than 10 minutes will be cut from $37.05 to $16.95.

---

Which will most likely mean closure of some of the large bulk billing GP clinics, and many people will not have access to a GP.  Here where I live the old fashioned doctors have not been taking new patients for years.  I therefore go to my doctor, who I have been seeing for over 20 years, but who is some 30km from here (where I lived before I moved).  If I am too sick to drive the distance I go to one large bulk billing one.  Not sure if they are gone what would I do.

And in the country town where they have already difficulties attracting doctors, they will have even more problems. 

[boris1gary]

---

@debra9275 wrote:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-13/maccallum-2015-year-of-no-return-for-abbott/6014814

Tony Abbott wants to focus on jobs and families this year, but with problems in almost every other area, 2015 may be his year of no return. Mungo MacCallum writes.

Tony Abbott tells us that 2015 will be the year of jobs and families. Well, he wishes. It may yet come to pass, but if it does it will have to be in the second half of the year - if at all.

2015 is actually war on welfare year

---

The focus will be how much more can they steal off families and how many more jobs will be lost - 2015 war on welfare, war on workers, war on medicare, war on public education.

[boris1gary]