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.

[debra9275]

I'm so pleased that others on Twitter saw Chris Kenny's tweets on Anzac Day that were instrumental in the sacking of the SBS sports reporter who posted offensive comments. Can't post a link atm but it's in the new Matilda. Not all his tweets were published in the article, but they can be found if you know where to look. the one where he urged people to contact MT and SBS was "interesting"

[debra9275]

https://newmatilda.com/2015/05/06/getting-scott-mcintyre-lest-we-forget-role-pundits-politicians-and...

[debra9275]

http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/cba-leads-40-billion-wipeout-in-the-asx-s-biggest-rout-in-two...

CBA leads $40 billion wipe-out in the ASX 's biggest rout in two years

Australian shares lost close to $40 billion in value in their biggest slump since February 2013, as poor profit results from Commonwealth Bank and Woolworths sparked a major bout of selling in the banking and consumer staples sectors and throughout the broader market

youch!!

[cherry*135]

Youch indeed.

French Ambassador

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he "doesn't concern himself with trivia" and was unaware at the time that the French ambassador Stephen Brady's partner of 32 years, Peter Stephens, was asked to wait in the car rather than greet him at a Paris airport.

And Mr Abbott has confirmed Mr Stephens was asked to stay in the car but blamed it on a junior official.

Mr Abbott said he did not know Mr Stephens had been asked to stay in the car because "I'm the Prime Minister and I don't normally concern myself with trivia".

"My understanding is there was some issue at the level of junior officials and I don't concern myself with these things.

CT

Someone higher up than  junior officials should be concerned about 'these things' happening.

[cherry*135]

Federal Budget 2015: Expect a do-nothing budget that will cost us time

The message we are set to get next Tuesday is that there's no budget crisis (even though it's  got worse) and that no one needs to get hurt (even though someone will have to be). It's the opposite of what we pay our leaders to do. As unlikely as it seems, it's not too late for them to improve things. One week out, the budget still hasn't been put to bed. That's expected on Thursday.

But big measures that offend large numbers of people are effectively off the table. Abbott promised to consult before any further major changes like the ones to Medicare, higher education and government benefits in his first budget. He hasn't consulted (at least not publicly), and that leaves him able to do very little. One week to go, the government looks like a rabbit in a spotlight, unable to do what's needed, and taking its time.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2015-expect-a-donothing-budge...

[monman12]

gimme,  gimme,  gimme...What drought?

[monman12]

Outside of the paddock, the Real World, and will the "All Ords" ever reach  6000?

Is this  some "Govt" paddock poo my olfactory system doth detect?

[debra9275]

interesting article AM

The Coalition's biggest mistake was not to tackle super in its first budget. If it had, it could have argued it was inflicting pain all around. As it was, with the honourable exception of the (temporary) deficit repair levy, just about all the measures in the budget took money from the  least well-off and left it with those on high incomes.

Meantime Abbott and his colleagues are spending money as if there is little need for restraint. Bypassing the usual channels, they are giving $4 million to the University of Western Australia to set up a "consensus centre" run by the Danish climate change contrarian Bjorn Lomborg.

They are spending $11 million on a series of largely incomprehensible advertisements promoting the idea of their intergenerational report. And an extra $35.5 million on a continuing festival of Anzac commemorations throughout the next financial year.

The message we are set to get next Tuesday is that there's no budget crisis (even though it's  got worse

that article has missed the $100 million just given for a war memorial in France

12 months ago they told us we had a 'budget emergency"  (when we didn't have) and talked the economy down so much that people stopped spending, which in turn has caused businesses to close down and now lots of jobs have been lost. the economy is now in very poor shape, property prices are too high interest rates and are at their lowest ever.

now joe wants people to spend money they haven't got to spend

what happens next I wonder

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-07/us-shares-fall-as-fed-yellen-warns-on-overvaluation/6451284

Wall Street fell for a second consecutive session overnight, with investors spooked by comments from the chair of the US Federal Reserve that stock prices are "quite high".

I also think our share market is overvalued-

[cherry*135]

PM says Hockey dump talk 'invented'

Prime Minister Tony Abbott denies coalition MPs want Treasurer Joe Hockey dumped if next week's federal budget flops.

Mr Abbott insists the 2015/16 budget will be well received and a product of team work.

"I think some people just make things up ... it's a complete invention," he told Melbourne radio 3AW on Thursday.

The Australian is reporting the government's chief whip Scott Buchholz recently passed on to Mr Abbott feedback from colleagues that Mr Hockey would have to go if his second budget was badly received.

Cabinet minister Scott Morrison dismissed the reports as "Canberra insider nonsense".

The treasurer had pulled together an excellent budget which would be fair and responsible, Mr Morrison told Sky News.

"He has my strong support".

 http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/05/07/pm-says-hockey-dump-talk-invented

Time will tell...