on 20-04-2014 10:21 PM
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.
on 30-09-2015 07:33 PM
I know that he paid his own airfares. The question is why is her property developer boyfriend sitting in on the meeting . Advising her on global security or humanitarian matters do you think?
on 01-10-2015 01:14 AM
"The question is why is her property developer boyfriend sitting in on the meeting"
And the serious questioners are?
Does anybody actually care, other than an opposition in search of something (including a leader), or a media with nothing overtly political to report?
Perhaps Bishop wanted her partner (or boyfriend) to listen to another visitor to the Chamber, the Pope.
Perhaps her boyfriend (or partner) is a fan of Shakira and Angelique Kidjo and wanted to listen to them sing at this august and politically sensitive event. Perhaps.
I wonder if Bishop's partner (or boyfriend) also signed the visitors book, as did the Pope?
on 01-10-2015 08:21 AM
Sky News, March 3, 2012: "The fact is that our foreign policy resources have been completely skewed to pursuing this seat and there really has been no justification for the benefit that will accrue to Australia by pursuing a seat at this time."
New York, September 30, 2015: "Australia's recent experience as a Security Council member confirmed the council's role is more essential than ever.
on 01-10-2015 09:38 AM
a little bit of good news
on 01-10-2015 09:42 AM
The Liberal Party is receiving hundreds of letters of resignation from branch members nationwide, refusals to work on election campaigns and threats to join or create new parties as a result of the removal of Tony Abbott as prime minister.
however
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-30/eric-abetz-worried-by-resignations-from-liberal-party/6816938
But Geoff Page, the president of the Liberal Party in Tasmania, said only 10 people had left in his state citing the leadership change
on 01-10-2015 10:03 AM
@debra9275 wrote:
a little bit of good news
That is good news, Deb. It's an interesting article, too, managing to quote from a speech the minister hasn't given yet.
"With only three months left in 2015, it is necessary to give both universities and students certainty about what the higher education funding arrangements for 2016 will be," Senator Birmingham will say in a speech to the University of Melbourne.
I guess he released notes to the press- and we know how the Libs love to stick to the script.
Now if they would just turn around recent changes to the pension assets test (unlikely, as it's already been legislated). A few people will get a small increase in their pension - which will be largely wiped out when interest rates increase and the income test kicks in - while many more will lose all or a large part of their pension. Arguably those with the highest assets still eligible under the current scheme can weather the loss but those in the middle range are in for painful cuts.
on 01-10-2015 10:09 AM
on 01-10-2015 10:14 AM
I was under the impression that only the very wealthy would be affected, as they should be.
Pensions and the GST are to be discussed at the financial meeting today.
on 01-10-2015 10:55 AM
@polksaladallie wrote:I was under the impression that only the very wealthy would be affected, as they should be.
Pensions and the GST are to be discussed at the financial meeting today.
Polks, only the very wealthy (relatively, certainly not Turnbull wealthy) will lose the pension altogether and arguably they can afford it.
However, the government did two things - they slashed the assets thresholds (cutoff points) by several hundred thousand dollars AND they doubled the taper rate from $1.50 to $3.00, which is the real killer. Each $1000 above the "free" threshold reduces your pension by $3.00 a fortnight. And that $1000 doesn't have to be cash - it could be your car or any asset. Someone worked out that it's the equivalent of your money earning minus 7.5% per annum.
That's what I meant by people in the middle feeling the pain. With the new scheme, many pensioners would be better off buying a bigger house - Centrelink don't care what your house cost; you're simply a homeowner or non homeowner. Later in life, the last thing most people need is a bigger house. Others will blow half their savings / children's inheritance on overseas holidays etc just to get the cash down.
For years people have been saying that you can't touch superannuation tax concessions because people plan their retirement years ahead and need confidence and certainty that the rules won't change. Pensioners also make plans and I think the changes are too sudden and too severe.
on 01-10-2015 11:38 AM
hahahaha
PM forgot to appoint anyone to Aged Care. It has now been given to the health minister.