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.

[cherry*135]

Howard backs Abbott but.....

While insisting that he was a firm Abbott supporter, Howard said he was mystified Abbott hadn’t managed the transition to government better and hadn’t successfully changed his mindset to adapt to the prime ministership.

Again, while reiterating that he firmly supported Abbott, Howard accepted that if there were a leadership change it had to be ­Malcolm Turnbull.

It’s well known Howard has not been a fan of Julie Bishop’s since prior to her preselection, but it’s still fascinating to hear the former PM express his view among such an influential media crowd as to who the next Liberal leader should be.

It’s particularly interesting given the conservative base of the Liberal Party has misgivings, to say the least, about Turnbull. But Howard also admitted that he had ignored such misgivings when he put Turnbull into the ministry and then promoted him.

 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/howard-backs-abbott-but/story-fnab9kqj-1227234599281

[cherry*135]

Tony Abbott 'wrong on sub-par Swedes': industry

23 Feb

TONY Abbott was wrong to suggest Swedish shipbuilder Saab Kockums lacked recent submarine-building experience when excluding it from the government’s $50 billion design and build partnership for the next fleet, defence industry leaders say.

South Australian Defence Teaming Centre chief executive Chris Burns said that, contrary to government assertions, Saab had ­delivered six submarines since 1996 and was well advanced in the design and delivery of Sweden’s next generation of submarines.

The Prime Minister said on Friday that firms from Japan, Germany and France would be involved in a 10-month process to bid for the design and construction of eight submarines, but Sweden had been ruled out because the last Swedish submarine came off the production line in 1996.

Defence Industry Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith said the South Australian government would appeal for Saab Kockums, which has partnered with the ASC to build the Collins-class fleet, to be included in the process. “We are extremely concerned that the Swedish model, without adequate explanation, has been excluded,’’ he said This all goes to creating the perception that this entire process is not truly competitive, is not truly open and is somehow rigged. “Why has the Swedish option been excluded when we have, in the water now, six of the most ­lethal submarines on the planet ... you can’t claim to be having an open process when you rule people out before they’ve even had the chance to reach the start line.’’

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/tony-abbott-wrong-on-sub-par-swedes-industr...

[gleee58]

Terrific to meet with the Foreign Minister of Iraq to discuss our joint efforts to combat the Daesh death cult

I wonder why he had to hold his foot?  

Ever the statesman, NOT!

[vicr3000]

Good old Hamilon Smith ! Nice to see him still around.

[cherry*135]

Mr Abbott has released the review of counter-terrorism operations.

Mr Abbott takes no questions.

Why not?

[cherry*135]

For the sake of consistency new security measures were put in place at the ministerial entrance to Parliament House this morning.

For the first time reporters, photographers and cameramen were kept inside a pen as they documented the morning's arrivals.

They were told by security officers it was for their own safety. As you can see it's a dangerous position to occupy.

Media pen at the ministerial entrance at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Canberra Times

[debra9275]

In a pen?? how ridiculous. I suppose he see's the press as his enemy now too lol

What worries me about abbott's new laws is how much of our freedom is he planning to take away from us?

[tezza2844]

Channel Nine thought his press conference was so important that they switched to the Oscars.

[cherry*135]

If there was no press/media he would still be a terrible PM.

This is an issue too.

Now, journalists reporting on terrorism in Australia could risk imprisonment under a suite of new national security laws and policies brought by the Abbott Government and ushered into law with the support of a compliant Labor Opposition.

The legislation, now in force, represents a chilling attack on media freedom in a progressive democracy.

"This is the most flagrant example of the Australian government posing an open threat to the liberty of journalists and other communicators simply trying to do their job in the reporting of news important to all citizens," leading Australian media law expert, Professor Mark Pearson, told the World Editors Forum when the legislation was first proposed.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-02/posetti-will-greste-find-press-freedom-here-at-home/6062168

[debra9275]

Really tezza? Lol