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.
I thought I would commence this graph from when Howard took over from Keating (2007) (sorry A3, inconvienient history?)
It would appear that the ALP Circus not only raised a big top with the dual knife act of Poor Me and Rudd , but managed to also raise a big government debt before they were kicked out of town !.
Gittins only a little pink, and he makes some good observations, BUT:
"One demonstration of the report's lack of genuine concern about our future is its dismissive treatment of climate change. The biggest risk we face in 40 years' time is the budget deficit?"
Report excerpt :
"Australia will meet its Kyoto target for 2020 and will join with the international community to establish post-2020 targets with the aim of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions,...."
Bearing in mind Australia's ability to have any noticeable effect upon anthropogenic warming, is nil, perhaps Gittins should stick to economics.
However I agree with these comments :
"........ The Howard government went mad with tax cuts and middle-class welfare and Rudd and Gillard were a fraction worse with their unfunded schemes to help disadvantaged school kids and the disabled."
"And these guys think it's all our fault"
It is our fault, or specifically the fault of 
Gosh again a topic well covered a while back, 14-02-2014, but perhaps not understood then and now: (I hope you obtained permission for the history period D9275)
IMF Report excerpt
"......It identifies only two periods of Australian "fiscal profligacy" in recent years, both during John Howard's term in office - in 2003 at the start of the mining boom and during his final years in office between 2005 and 2007."
Oh surprise, debt was reducing (after the ALP term under Keating) and surprise again there was money in the coffers.
Whoops: "The working paper makes clear that views expressed in the document are those of the authors and not necessarily the IMF"
That would be a little like some of the views expressed here?
ooops, so many opinions on the big spending during the Howard govt's mining boom years and the IMF report
pages and pages of them. not written by the IMF but ... could they all be wrong??
google is your friend 
hmmm how would it be possible to reduce debt if you are in a mining boom. I wonder???
