THE BUDGET THREAD

[nero_bolt]

Have your say on the budget and what you think of it after its released.

[grumpy*cat*rocks]

Not responding to anyone in particular, just following on with the thread.

Regarding the $7 fee if it gets in.

My neighbour is 84 years old and whilst out walking this morning I saw her and we chatted.

She lives week to week as most pensioners do. She has very little in her savings especially in the last few days leading up to when her old age pension goes into her account when she has only a couple of dollars to her name.

She goes to the doctor one day because she's feeling a bit unwell. That's $7.

Doctor sends her for a blood test at the local Sullivan and Nicolaides pathology place where she's normally bulk billed. There's another $7.

Doctor wants her to have a chest xray next door at the radiology clinic. There's another $7.

So in one day she has to find $21 to pay for these things which were previously free.

Doctors receptionist phones her the next day saying doctor needs to see her to discuss her results. There's another $7.

Doctor also writes out a script.

She has the money for the script in the bank, but not for the other things.

So what does she do?

She's very worried about this. She only visits the doctor 5 or 6 times a year as a rule, so the free visits once you've had 10 really wouldn't happen for her unless she was sick.

Is it 10 visits in total counting Doctors, pathology and radiology? Or is it 10 visits to the doctor, 10 visits to the pathologist and 10 visits for radiology procedures?

She said she will go to the hospital accident and emergency section if she's feeling a bit unwell and put up with a long wait.

This is so very wrong.

She's stressing out about where she's going to find this extra money.

I hope for her sake, and the sake of others with limited incomes, that this is not passed.

[love*today]

Arrhh yeah but the libs thought about that extra strain on emergency and so if the emergency visit is deemed as not necassary then they will be hit with the $7 fee there too. 

[fourandsixpants]

yes grumpy. This in unfair . What about people on say, 3 or more regular meds, that require repeat scripts....mind boggles.

I feel sorry for any young person of 24 yrs say, trying to be independant, has not got a good family support, loses their job through no fault of their own AND is on repeat medication

[spotweldersfriend]

That's Tonys small gesture to protect paedophile priests.

[azureline**]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@azureline** wrote:

Anything so far? I am confused about the PBS, does that mean my FIL will have his pensioner discounted meds doubled? $91 pm currently.

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Yes I do believe that is so but the Safety Net is going to be reduced so they pay more initially bet get to the free level faster 

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Doing a bit of reading... for a person on a concession card they will pay and extra .80 cents per script and the safety net will increase by 2 scripts. 

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Thanks Cat, I am concerned about his costs so that looks ok, probably adds under $10 to his bill and the doctor visits another $28pm.. He is probably lucky he is a nursing home.

[catsnknots]

I did a bit of research... I always feel you can't make an educated comment if you don't go to the right source and educate yourself. Deciding not to listen to any media rant I decided to look at the legislation itself. So if I read this correctly it basically says if you are not actively trying to make an effort to find a job or educate yourself you won't get unemployment benefits.   There is already a 12 week wait for a payment if you just leave your job for no reason other than you hate you boss or don't like the job so I gather this is just an extension of that. I think that if you get the sack for no reason of your making then you should be able to get a payment immediately your severance pay expires (ie: 2 weeks holiday pay should means no benefits for a short period) like it happens now.    Stronger Participation Incentives for Job Seekers under 30

The Government will achieve savings of $1.2 billion over four years by changing access to income support for people under 30 years of age, to encourage young people with full work capacity to be earning, learning or participating in Work for the Dole.

From 1 January 2015, all new claimants of Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other) who are under 30 years of age must demonstrate appropriate job search and participation in employment services support for six months before receiving payments. Prior workforce participation may reduce the waiting period. After six months, claimants will be required to participate in 25 hours per week Work for the Dole to receive income support, and following this may continue to access employment services for a further six month period, including access to a wage subsidy in lieu of income support.

From 1 July 2015, existing recipients of Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other) who are under 30 years of age will also become subject to these new arrangements. These people will have already served six months on Work for the Dole.

Payment recipients who have a partial capacity to work, are the principal carer of a child, are part‑time apprentices, are in education or are job seekers in Disability Employment Services or Job Services Australia Streams 3 and 4 will be exempt.

The savings from this measure will be redirected by the Government to repair the Budget and fund policy priorities.

[boris1gary]

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@catsnknots wrote:

Overall I am totally happy with the budget. The $20 Billion to medical research is perfect for me and where I am heading so very happy with that. 

the only thing I don't agree with is the 6 months wait for unemployment benefits and six months on and six months off it... that is going to make people homeless. I have actually messaged my local mp about this as I am very concerned about the repercussions. Not many people have a six months supply of cash in the bank to pay the rent. 

I am just hoping that there are some extremes in the budget so that the government has something to bargain down. That is usually what most governments do to make it so they can work through a hostile senate. 

I am happy to pay the $7 to see a Dr. I am happy to pay extra for my meds.... that I can understand because I work in the health industry and see the extreme stress the system is under. 

Anyone that voted for the Coalition knew that these sort of cuts were coming. 

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really? anyone that voted for the coalition knew that these sorts of cuts were coming... how? Did they have some secret information that the rest of us didn't. I distinctly remember - no cuts to education, no cuts to health, no cuts to the ABC...and some others. So the coalition voters knew all along that abbott was lying, good one.

Its great that someone is happy, with the $80 billion cuts to health and schools, that must be a real buzz.

Mr Hockey then wiped his nose and brow of what looked like sweat, as Ms Ferguson grilled him on the government's decision to cut $80 billion from schools and hospitals over ten years.

"Are you starving the states so they beg you, effectively, to raise the GST?" she asked.

"That's up to them, they are responsible for schools and hospitals."

[azureline**]

From 1 January 2015, all new claimants of Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other) who are under 30 years of age must demonstrate appropriate job search and participation in employment services support for six months before receiving payments

What will they live on for that 6 months?

[spotweldersfriend]

All we need now is a Willliam Hogarth to chronicle Australia's transformation into the Dickensian period.

[catsnknots]

Don't forget that these proposals can all be negotiated through the Senate and a responsible Senate should look at all of these measures and see that things like elderly people on the pension should not have to pay the $7 fee on anything helath wise. 

The health system is in need of change. It can't be sustained. Something needs to give.