eBay

boris1gary · ‎20-04-2014

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 · ‎23-03-2015

I consider some things to be pretty silly too 😉

cherry*135 · ‎23-03-2015

NSW .. someone mention that?

FORMER NSW Liberal Premier:

Barry O'Farrell to resign over 'massive memory fail' at ICAC

Mr O'Farrell denied receiving a $3,000 bottle of wine in 2011 from Australian Water Holdings (AWH) executive Nick Di Girolamo.

The Premier also said he had no recollection of a 28-second call made from his phone to Mr Di Girolamo around the time he was allegedly sent the wine.

On Wednesday morning, ICAC heard that a handwritten note from Mr O'Farrell, thanking Mr Di Girolamo for the wine, had been uncovered.

Soon after Mr O'Farrell called a media conference in which he announced his decision to step down.

ABC

Sept 2014

A sensational corruption inquiry has concluded by claiming a 10th NSW Liberal scalp, with Port Stephens MP Craig Baumann sent to the crossbench amid allegations he took secret developer donations.

This brings to 12 the number of state and federal Liberal politicians who have resigned or stood aside following corruption inquiries this year.

SMH

cherry*135 · ‎23-03-2015

Budget ‘spending problem’ hits PM’s repair timetable

A SPIKE in government payments has shattered Tony Abbott’s hope of slashing outlays within a year as he prepares to reveal new spending on families to lift his political fortunes.

The spending pressure is another setback for the Prime Minister in the lead-up to the May budget, with cabinet ministers meeting again this week to hammer out a strategy that will avoid dramatic new cuts.

Days after Mr Abbott tipped a “broad” budget balance within about five years, a previously confidential Treasury document shows government payments will jump this year when they were meant to start falling.

The Treasury charts, obtained by The Australian under Freedom of Information laws, show the government will not bring payments back to their long-term average as a share of the economy until 2021 at the earliest — well behind the plans set out in the budget last May.

The charts reveal the long-term impact of $13.7 billion in higher payments over the coming four years as well as a shortfall in tax revenue, threatening to widen future deficits, despite Mr Abbott’s promise to put the nation on track for a “believable” surplus.

While fears over the budget balance have focused on the hit to revenue from recent falls in iron ore and coal prices, the Treasury charts highlight the spending problem. One of the charts shows that it will take until 2021 for payments to fall to their long-term average of 24.9 per cent of GDP.

The budget papers last May showed this was going to be achieved six years earlier, in 2016. The chart was not included or revised in the mid-year fiscal and economic outlook issued last December.

The Treasury document highlights the “spending problem” at the heart of the budget at a time when government is struggling to convince voters to accept unpopular savings, raising questions about whether leaders are willing to take the political risks needed to contain spending pressures.

Business chiefs have expressed dismay at Mr Abbott’s new message on the nation’s finances after he declared last week that this year’s budget would be “pretty dull and pretty routine” and it would be a “pretty good result” compared with other countries if our net debt reached 50 per cent or 60 per cent of GDP.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/budget-spending-problem-hits-pms-repair-timetable...

myoclon1cjerk · ‎23-03-2015

And after praising Malcolm Fraser for his humanitarian work in parliament today,it looks like the libs are about to apply the cutthroat to foreign aid again.

cherry*135 · ‎23-03-2015

Good capture of the 'eye roll' in the video clip in the link (for those who haven't already seen it)

Julie Bishop's great eye roll performance behind Joe Hockey's back

...But Ms Bishop managed to outdo herself in the unlikely surrounds of the House's condolence motion for Malcolm Fraser on Monday.

Usually one would be more sombre rather than less while pondering the passing of a former prime minister. But these are not usual times.

Ms Bishop's burst of expression occurred when Treasurer Joe Hockey was making his tribute to Fraser and praised him for starting the Expenditure Review Committee, the sub-grouping of cabinet that runs the budget.

"We will be forever thankful," Mr Hockey said, cheerfully.

"That committee has endured, much to the chagrin of my colleagues, but it has endured."

Up until this point, Ms Bishop had been listening to her ministerial colleague stonily - her jaw set with all the determination of an annoyed teenager.

But when Mr Hockey mentioned the budget committee, she proceeded to roll her eyes, shake her head, mutter under her breath, put her head in her hand and raise her eyebrows in dazzling and devastating succession.

While Ms Bishop's office have not distributed a transcript of her comment, it would be fair to say that she was not taking issue with the extra paperwork generated by the ERC. Or its tendency to run late into the night.

It is far more likely that she was referring to the morning's papers, which carried the news that her already-diminished aid budget was to be cut further by the committee.

As she had earlier told the ABC, this was the first she'd heard of the idea.

"I'll certainly be taking that up with the Treasurer to find the source of that story," she warned.

Her subsequent eye rolling suggests their conversation isn't going to be easy.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishops-great-eye-roll-performance-behin...

tezza2844 · ‎23-03-2015

am*3 wrote

Ms Bishop's burst of expression occurred when Treasurer Joe Hockey was making his tribute to Fraser and praised him for starting the Expenditure Review Committee, the sub-grouping of cabinet that runs the budget.

But when Mr Hockey mentioned the budget committee, she proceeded to roll her eyes, shake her head, mutter under her breath, put her head in her hand and raise her eyebrows in dazzling and devastating succession.

Whilst Ms Bishop's expression showed her contempt for "Treasurer" Joes statement, you might want to watch the reaction of the village idiot behind him.

gleee58 · ‎23-03-2015

@tezza2844 wrote:
am*3 wrote

Ms Bishop's burst of expression occurred when Treasurer Joe Hockey was making his tribute to Fraser and praised him for starting the Expenditure Review Committee, the sub-grouping of cabinet that runs the budget.

But when Mr Hockey mentioned the budget committee, she proceeded to roll her eyes, shake her head, mutter under her breath, put her head in her hand and raise her eyebrows in dazzling and devastating succession.

Whilst Ms Bishop's expression showed her contempt for "Treasurer" Joes statement, you might want to watch the reaction of the village idiot behind him.

Hockey's performance was just that, a performance. A performance lacking in dignity and respect.

debra9275 · ‎23-03-2015

funny wasn't it?? they seem to have pretty poor communication amongst themselves

cherry*135 · ‎23-03-2015

Yes, poor behaviour (Hockey)

More chaos

Backdown on foreign aid cuts flagged as tensions rise between Julie Bishop and Joe Hockey

The Abbott government has all but ruled out further cuts to the foreign aid budget after Julie Bishop pushed back, letting it be known she wanted a "please explain" from Joe Hockey and rolling her eyes when the Treasurer praised the expenditure review committee approach to budget restraint in parliament.

But if foreign aid is off the table, it means the government has surrendered another area of spending in which to find savings.

While Finance Minister Mathias Cormann moved quickly to defuse the problem by declaring that, as a key member of expenditure review committee, he knew of no plan to make fresh cuts to international aid, the incident has fanned smouldering tensions within the government at the highest levels, revealing an absence of trust among Mr Abbott's most senior leadership group.

A source said relations between Mr Hockey and Ms Bishop were at an all-time low and that Ms Bishop's relationship with Mr Abbott was also under strain - largely because of his office.

In Parliament, Ms Bishop, regarded by many Liberals as the government's best performing minister, made no secret of her disdain for Mr Hockey when he praised Malcolm Fraser for initiating the review committee process. The review committee is also known as "the razor gang", for its brutal line-by-line evisceration of departmental spending.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/backdown-on-foreign-aid-cuts-flagged-as-tensio...