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.

[cherry*135]

Explain again... who is the current Treasurer of Australia?

This man - Joe Hockey

[cherry*135]

Sept 2011

Treasurer Wayne Swan has been awarded the prestigious finance minister of the year award for his handling of the Australian economy.

The award is judged by leading European banking and finance magazine Euromoney on advice from global bankers and investors.

Each year the award honours the finance minister, treasurer or central bank governor whose decisions "have directly benefited both the performance and perception of their country's economic and financial achievements".

The only other Australian treasurer to win the coveted award was Paul Keating in 1984 after a raft of economic reforms including deregulating banking and floating the dollar.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-21/swan-named-best-treasurer/2908654

Not much chance of Hockey getting the same award, big LOL.

[debra9275]

[debra9275]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/access-denied-journalists-lodge-complaint-abou...

Access denied: Journalists lodge complaint about threats to freedom of the press amid Parliament security crackdown

The committee representing the media working in Parliament House has lodged a formal complaint about the increasing use of bollards, saying they threaten freedom of the press and pose safety issues.

Over the past year bollards have been erected inside and outside the building in what photographers and camera crews in particular see as an attempt to restrict their access to politicians.

For the first time holding pens have been created outside the entrances to Parliament House, which limits the media's ability to document the arrival of politicians on sitting days.

but he's just hired a personal photographer from  NEWS CORP 

ok

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-02/fact-check3a-do-the-states-and-territories-need-to-agree-to-ch...

Fact check: Do the states and territories need to agree to change the GST?

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has long argued that the GST can't be increased without the support of state and territory governments.

Following the release of the Government's tax discussion paper, Re:think, the debate over whether the GST should be increased has started up once again - but the Prime Minister says it can't happen without a consensus.

• The claim: Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the Government cannot change the GST without the agreement of the states and territories, and consensus in the federal parliament.
• The verdict: Legal experts say changing the GST simply requires amendments to the GST Act. The Government only needs a simple majority of both houses of parliament to do this. While it may be politically difficult, there is no legal barrier to the Commonwealth unilaterally changing the rate or base of the GST. Mr Abbott is being misleading.

"We can't change the GST without having all the states and territories on side and without having a consensus in the national parliament," Mr Abbott said at a doorstop on March 30.

[cherry*135]

---

@monman12 wrote:

A3 I do wonder at your post:

@"monman12 wrote:

---

Wonder away, that is your prerogative.

Debra's post (which you replied to) was in relation to the current PM hiring his own photographer (taxpayer funded).

Which has nothing to do  with magazine shoots(photos taken by a photographer employed by the publisher), or photo's published in the media by photographers employed by media outlets.

We could all spend all day posting photos of past PM's, there isn't any point in doing that though. Did Julia Gillard pay a photographer ( using taxpayer funds) to take her photo so it could be published in the AWW? No, she did not.

Not Tony Abbott's 'idea' to have a photo taken here or there by a media outlet/publisher he is employing HIS OWN PHOTOGRPAHER full time -- big difference.

[cherry*135]

Here is a recent 'staged' photo (not a magazine shoot) released by the NSW Premier via twitter?. Post election win

Mike Baird and his wife Kerryn in the shot arranged by Tony Story. Photo: Twitter

NSW Premier Mike Baird, mimicking US President Barack Obama, posted a beautiful black-and-white picture of himself with his wife, Kerryn, on social media on the night of his election win last month.

What looked like an impromptu, private moment away from the hubbub of the victory party was actually arranged by his digital media specialist, Tony Story, and came with a carefully crafted message: "Thank you NSW. I love this state. We will work for you, every day, for the next 4 years." 

Here is an unvarnished one of Abbott

Unvarnished and strategic: Tony Abbott with US President Barack Obama. Photo: Andrew Meares

Labor

Sean Kelly, a press secretary to former Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, said hiring a personal photographer to document Ms Gillard's time in office was discussed.

"It's not practical to have a photographer from the press in the Prime Minister's Office at all times and there are always charming, emotional, beautiful experiences which only tend to occur behind closed doors," Mr Kelly said.

The appointment was never made after staff decided it would have been seen as "narcissistic" and inappropriate at a time when the Labor government was facing a looming budget deficit.

SMH

[monman12]

A3: "The appointment was never made after staff decided it would have been seen as "narcissistic" and inappropriate at a time when the Labor government was facing a looming budget deficit."

But how could that be, Swan was for ever, and for ever, and for ever promising us a "surplus" garden!

OK, that explains it.    No it doesn't there was no surplus,  which "sadly" meant that we missed  some "beautiful experiences" (chuckle).

"It's not practical to have a photographer from the press in the Prime Minister's Office at all times and there are always charming, emotional, beautiful experiences which only tend to occur behind closed doors," Mr Kelly said.

How  "charming"

[debra9275]

wayne swan voted worlds best treasurer During the GFC....AAA ratting. Envy of the rest of the world at that time.

How odd that no Australian LNP treasurers are on that " best treasurers" list. I wonder why that Is?

[gleee58]

So Labor changed Federal leaders and we get the perpetual "knife act" routine.  Meanwhile the LNP change leaders just as, if not more, frequently and not a whisper.  Too funny and so typically MONOtonous.