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.
Off topic I know, but I had to share 
My Mum and Dad are celebrating their 60th WA soon. I told Mum I was organising the usual letter from the GG, Queen, PM etc. Her response ?
"Don't you get me anything signed by that fool Abbott. I'd tear it up if you did. Maybe if Julia was still PM I'd be happy to get it"
"As for the Queen, well that's just stupid. Why would she care ? And what's she got to do with us anyway ?"
Bless her
Bronwyn Bishop and Stephen Parry personally added 'burqa ban' to official advice
Senate president said the interim ban was influenced by two pieces of advice – but officials contradict his account
The Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, and the president of the Senate, Stephen Parry, personally added the controversial “burqa ban” in parliament house to official security advice because they feared a group was intending to disrupt parliament.
Parry said he had based his decision to add the “interim” ban on two pieces of advice, but one of the officials he cited as giving him that advice said she had not been told of any intended “disruption”, but only that a group wearing facial coverings intended to “enter” parliament house.
Parry also conceded that “Asio and the AFP were not involved” in the decision.
Parry said he had not spoken to the prime minister’s office about the ban, and – contrary to reports – he had not been told by the prime minister’s office to revoke it.
Senator Cory Bernardi is playing the knight in shining armour. He is concerned Senator Parry is being put off by the "distractive nature of the photographers."
Senator Wong suggests "quiet cameras" should be given to the media.
Federal politics live
Leaked report raises concerns over 457 visa
Billabong International's chief executive, the American retail specialist Neil Fiske, is working in Australia on a 457 visa.
Mr Fiske is the most high-profile – and, at $1 million a year, best paid – worker on the controversial 457 visa covered in a leaked monitoring report by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The unredacted version of the report, obtained by Fairfax Media, reveals the names of 1800 visa holders and the companies that employ them – or in many cases, the companies that used to employ them.
The report also raises questions about the widespread use of the visa, which the government insists is available only to employers who "cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work" they require.
The Fair Work log suggests that certain cafes and restaurants in populated urban areas are almost entirely staffed by foreign workers.
For example, a restaurant called Goa Indian Fusion on Queensland's Gold Coast has five staff on 457 visas. The Gold Coast has a youth unemployment rate of 16.5 per cent.
Likewise, Cafe 21 in Darwin has six imported staff doing everything from cooking to customer service, and has one working as the accountant.
