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.

[debra9275]

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/new-laws-could-give-asio-a-warrant-for-the-enti...

the press should be free imo

[debra9275]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-24/peter-slipper-sentencing-hearing/5759326

Peter Slipper has been sentenced to do 300 hours community service and to pay back $954

and

The Abbott government is facing more scrutiny over travel entitlements, with fresh documents revealing Education Minister Christopher Pyne and his wife had a taxpayer-funded $30,000 trip to London and Rome in April.

The trip included taxpayers being billed $1352 for Mr Pyne to "day let" a room at a swish London hotel before he and his wife, Carolyn, flew back to Australia later that same day and more than $2000 for VIP services at Heathrow Airport.

 http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/questions-arise-over-christopher-pynes-taxpaye...

so is Pyne going to pay this back or what??

[boris1gary]

[debra9275]

LOL.

Hope he gives the money back

[cherry*135]

I don't understand the reason Credlin gave for approving Mrs Pyne's travel... the bit in blue. 

Under the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's travel guidlines, a minister's spouse is not normally allowed to go on trips and are only entitled to if they have an invitation from a foreign government or host organisation and an official program of events separate to that of the minister.

"It is not sufficient to include the spouse in the minister's existing program of meetings. The travel must be justified and defensible," the guidelines state.

The Department of Education has revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request that it has no documents showing a foreign government invitation for Mrs Pyne nor an official program of events for her.

But documents published by the Finance Department show Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin approved Mrs Pyne's travel because of the "significant representational aspect of the travel".  

A letter from Ms Credlin to Mr Pyne's office approving the trip also notes that the attendance of Mrs Pyne was expected to cost the Commonwealth no more than a business class airfare for the minister. As a minister, Mr Pyne is entitled to fly business class on official overseas travel. 

Mr Pyne flew business class from Adelaide to Sydney but switched to economy for the rest of the journey to London

[boris1gary]

There doesn't seem to be any reason for it, except they feel entitled

http://www.independentaustralia.net/article-display/mr-and-mrs-pynes-economy-european-adventure,6932

According to Fairfax:

Under the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's travel guidelines, ministers' spouses are not normally allowed to go on trips and are only entitled to if they have an invitation from a foreign government or host organisation and an official program of events separate to that of the minister.

The problem is:

The Department of Education has revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request that it has no documents showing a foreign government invitation for Mrs Pyne nor an official program of events for her.

[boris1gary]

First Dog on the Moon cartoon.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cartoon/2014/sep/24/first-dog-terrorism

[nero_bolt]

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@boris1gary wrote:

There doesn't seem to be any reason for it, except they feel entitled

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Only bad when a Liberal does it,

Taxpayers were slugged $72,000 for a farewell lap of Europe for Greg Combet and his ABC girlfriend. 

LABOR ministers plundered about $2 million on farewell around-the-world tours in the dying months of the Gillard and Rudd governments…

In one of the most expensive, the 10-day trip by former climate change minister Greg Combet and ABC newsreader girlfriend Juanita Phillips through France, Belgium and Germany in April has come in at $72,027.

The bill included $57,673 on airfares, $8914 on hotels and meals and $4634 on ground transport.

The former NSW MP listed the reason as conducting a “series of high-level meetings” and attending the Towards a Global Carbon Market: Prospects for Emissions Trading Conference.

But he refused to detail what Ms Phillips’ duties involved when The Daily Telegraph reported the first-class trip earlier this year, insisting it was within guidelines.

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Also for the salavating left in their quest for whatever.... 

 The Pyne's as indicated, flew economy, which meant that bringing his wife cost not one cent more to the taxpayer. All other costs she incurred were paid for by the Pynes.

This is a monstrous beat up.

Now, also on that trip was a Labor MP and his wife. Business class fares for both. Not mentioned by Fairfax. 

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Go on beat this non story up some more...... 

[cherry*135]

We already have one poster here stuck in the past...that's more than enough.

This current week - Pyne $30 000 overseas jaunt (less than a week) that the taxpayer paid for.

Who paid for her scones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[polksaladallie]

I just heard Abbott speaking reading at the UN Security Council, in the presence of world leaders.

It was so embarrassing,  He has the delivery of an eight year old.  

I don't get why his minders don't do something about this.