on โ20-04-2014 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 โ27-02-2015 04:44 PM
Private health insurance premiums will rise by a weighted industry average of 6.18 per cent from April 1, Health Minister Sussan Ley has announced.
The latest increase is almost three times the rate of inflation, and will add about $200 a year to the cost of the average family policy.
The 2015 increase is only slightly less than the 6.2 per cent average increase approved for 2014 by Ms Ley's predecessor, Peter Dutton, which was the largest rise since 2005.
Justifying the increase, Ms Ley said total benefits paid to private health insurance members grew by 7.4 per cent in the 12 months to December 2014
on โ27-02-2015 04:52 PM
Former News Corporation Australian boss John Hartigan has called for Prime Minister Tony Abbott to step aside in the nation's best interest.
Mr Hartigan, who is now chairman of Prime Media, said he admired Mr Abbott.
But asked if the Prime Minister could turn around his political fortunes Mr Hartigan said: "No. I think his opportunity is gone. Even his strongest supporters are now detractors.
โ27-02-2015 05:09 PM - edited โ27-02-2015 05:10 PM
on โ27-02-2015 06:30 PM
โ27-02-2015 08:56 PM - edited โ27-02-2015 08:57 PM
mm12
Is Bill Shorten the PM of Australia/ world leader? No, didn't think so.
Abbotts back-flips, aggro attacks, blunders and gaffes have a much more negative effect on the nation than anything Shorten does.. Plus Abbott is supposed to be in charge on the nation. He is lacking in international skills as well.
Abbott - "you bet you are... you bet I am."
โ27-02-2015 09:11 PM - edited โ27-02-2015 09:11 PM
@debra9275 wrote:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11409125
Fresh speculation around a challenge to Tony Abbott's leadership threatens to overshadow his first official visit to New Zealand. It now looks possible that his first official could be his last.
New reports from Australia suggest that former leader Malcolm Turnbull has enough support to win a leadership spill and it is just a matter of when, not if, he is challenged.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
is the NZ Herald Sun a murdoch paper or a leftie paper ? ( assuming all papers not owned by murdoch are called leftie papers)
not sure if owns that one or not?
The New Zealand Herald is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME)
The Herald is traditionally a centre-right newspaper.
On domestic matters, editorial opinion is centrist, usually supporting socially conservative values.
The Herald on Sunday - A compact-sized Sunday edition
That is from wiki
โ27-02-2015 09:19 PM - edited โ27-02-2015 09:23 PM
Bishop nods off during Abbott's speech (NZ)
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's hectic travel schedule appears to have caught up with her - right in the middle of a speech by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
... the long hours appeared to catch up with her during Abbott's speech to the Australia New Zealand leadership forum.
As Abbott talked up the strength of the trade, diplomatic and cultural ties between the two countries and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key watched on, Bishop's eyelids could be seen closing for a second or more several times.
At one point, her head even dropped momentarily before snapping back to attention.
Abbott:
"I've dozed off from time to time at conferences, all of us have from time to time dozed off at conferences. I've missed some very great speeches because I've been contemplating, as it were, contemplating the inside of my eyeball," he said. Buffoon
Bishop took to Twitter and said she was "not sleeping [but] merely contemplating the media obsession with trivia". Sure
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/66770607/bishop-nods-off-during-abbotts-nz-speech
The speculation could derail tomorrow's press conference with Abbott and Prime Minister John Key.
Notoriously reluctant to take questions from the media, Abbott won't want to give any opening to Australian media to pin him down on his domestic problems.
Earlier in the week, New Zealand and Australian media were told they would be allowed only one question per leader. That was later expanded to three, but Abbott's minders are likely wondering whether that will leave him too exposed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/66753841/australian-pm-tony-abbott-visits-auckland
on โ27-02-2015 10:10 PM
Business turns on Tony Abbott as cabinet urged to act
Some of the nation's top business leaders have turned on Prime Minister Tony Abbott, declaring leadership instability is harming confidence, as backbenchers urge the cabinet to end the uncertainty.
It is likely Monday's cabinet meeting will see a repeat of the political discussion over the leadership that immediately followed the failed spill motion when cabinet met earlier this month.
Such discussions require advisers and public servants to leave the cabinet room.
In a development certain to add to the pressure on Mr Abbott ahead of the cabinet meeting, former News Limited boss and now head of Prime Media John Hartigan said Mr Abbott's position now was unrecoverable.
"No. I think his opportunity is gone. Even his strongest supporters are now detractors," Mr Hartigan said, while also categorising himself as an admirer of Mr Abbott.
"But as I say, he has appeared as if he doesn't want to face up to the realities of his political life. He is letting them slip through his fingers day by day."
Mr Hartigan also complained that political uncertainty was hurting the economy.
"It's very significant. I have not seen Australia, in so many economic areas โ and I'm not speaking about our industry, I'm speaking across the board โ at such a crossroads," he said.
on โ27-02-2015 11:40 PM
Back to normal C&P posts, e.g. others thoughts with no original additional comments, or research it would seem.
"Some of the nation's top business leaders have turned on Prime Minister Tony Abbott, declaring leadership instability is harming confidence, as backbenchers urge the cabinet to end the uncertainty."
This is lack of confidence ???: "Some of the nation's top business leaders" would appear to be out of touch with our ASX
on โ27-02-2015 11:44 PM