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.

[alexander*beetle]

I didn't blame Tony Abbott for the high housing prices. I simply stated that it was a strange thing for a Prime Minister to say when he is supposed to be representing everyone in the country. It is extremely difficult for young people to get into the market at the moment because of the high prices. It just sounded like an "I'm alright Jack" type of comment. You read too much into what I said. 

[bella_again]

Maybe we need to change the traditional idea of owning a house as being the great Aussie dream.  Maybe long term leases are the way to go where people can lease houses for their lifetime. Some countries are headed that way instead.

On the other hand I don't understand why the lending criteria has tightened up so much that fulfilling that criteria is near impossible unless you are a mid to higher income earner. I own about 2/3's of my house however I can never get a loan to move because I am on a carer payment. Yet owning a house is cheaper than paying exorbitant rent. There has to be a happy medium somewhere.

In the 90's they had a buy scheme for low income people (forget the name of it) but it kept them in their own home.  Could have been home first? and they paid in portion to their income which got lower income people in houses.  I realise there was a risk to a scheme like that but honestly it got a lot of people into their first house and gave them a chance.

[myoclon1cjerk]

S.A has such a scheme,bella.I know a few people there that took advantage of it,those who could only work part time because they were single parents,low income etc.They would never have been able to secure their own home otherwise.

[debra9275]

it's not easy Bella, even those high income earners have the problem of no job security these days and could find themselves out of work with a huge mortgage. Home ownership is  decreasing in Australia but you have done well, as you say, owning a home is cheaper than renting. Rent is also pretty high these days in the capital cities, I don't know how people manage to pay rent and save for a home at the same time. 

these figures are on home ownership 2011

http://www.ahuri.edu.au/themes/home_ownership

http://www.ahuri.edu.au/themes/housing_affordability

[debra9275]

in one of those links at the bottom of the page... is it Home start??

[monman12]

d9275: " you posted " shorten will be gone in a week" by Rowan Dean ( in March. I think that was,)" 

Henry Tax Review  Excerpt

"Additional specific taxes should exist only where they improve social outcomes or market efficiency through better price signals. Such taxes would only be used where they are a better means to achieve the desired outcome than other policy instruments. The rate of tax would be set in accordance with the marginal spillover cost of the activity."

[debra9275]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-cabinet-fight-a-come-to-jesus-m...

Tony Abbott has described a discussion at Monday afternoon's cabinet meeting where he admonished leakers as a "come to Jesus moment", while addressing his party room meeting on Tuesday.

Responding to the spectacularly detailed account of last week's cabinet discussion over denying citizenship to terrorist supporters – reported by Fairfax Media - the Prime Minister told his backbench that the cabinet leaks had been "disappointing" but had done no harm to the government.

hmmm despite the 'pep talk" it seems there is still a leak in the cabinet

I wonder who it is??

[monman12]

I think that where leaks are concerned the prize for cabinet colander must go to the Circus,  and especially Rudd's treatment of Poor Me.  (sorry about the forbidden history period)

I do wonder if  Laurie Oakes always  kept a towel handy during those heady knife throwing days !

[debra9275]

Sorry if you misunderstood the post, it was about today's cabinet leak on cabinet's discussion of last weeks leak

[bella_again]

Yes Home Start sounds familiar.  We wanted to explore the possibility of moving to another area that had higher chances of employment and support for SN girls but about 2 years ago the bank changed their policy so that people on any form of pension or welfare payment couldn't borrow any funds to try and secure a house (even part payments) so a part time job isn't enough. Which I think makes it far harder.  We could not afford to rent so stayed put.  Sadly though it'll mean limited opportunities in the longer term.