This is a thread for commentary, links and analysis for tonight’s Federal Budget.
It’s being billed as an opportunity for Wayne Swan to save Kevin Rudd, which I think is pretty hyperbolic (and it’s always interesting to contrast the journosphere’s attack on the government for hyperbole with their own commentary). But there is no doubt that what’s anticipated to be a “no frills” statement is now of more political importance given what’s been happening recently in the polls. While the concept of the “Budget bounce” is now somewhat discredited – given the public disinterest in the latter years of the Howard era in responding positively to the ritual handouts – the ALP will certainly be hoping that tonight is the first step on the road to political recovery.
Wayne Swan will be hoping both to cement Labor’s reputation as economic managers (and the current turmoil in world markets and in the Eurozone will no doubt be used as a point of contrast with Australia’s fiscal and economic position) and to use the opportunity of a set piece speech which has a large unmediated audience to convey a message which will concentrate minds on the case for the Government’s return. So there probably will be no huge surprises, but it’s being tipped that some major announcements in skills and training will supplement what we already know about the Government’s intentions in health and super and other policy areas.
The Budget will also shift the dynamics of the political debate, leaving the opposition with no further wiggle room on policy and finance, unable any more to say “wait til the Henry Review and the Budget”. The former excuse has also run out of steam, with the previous suggestions that the opposition itself would use a resources rent tax as a pot of gold for promises falling victim to their jumping on the cynical mining industry bandwagon (along with the corporate cheerleaders among Labor premiers).
Similarly, the Government will be trusting that an improved fiscal outlook will defang a lot of the rhetoric about “debt and deficit”, and enable Labor to get back onto the front foot. A virtue will be made of austerity, with Swan no doubt about to claim that he’s eschewing the big ticket spending that Costello/Howard budgets sought to lure votes with in election years.
It will be interesting to see whether Wayne Swan, as I suggested he should, also addresses the question of what the Government can do to maintain living standards for electors, and in this context, the personal tax cuts and lifting of thresholds and the Low Income Tax offset may feature prominently.
Tony Abbott will be under great pressure in his reply on Thursday night, because we’re about to get to that part of the electoral cycle where the negative message has been pushed about as far as it can go, and he has to come through with some sort of idea of what sort of Government he would lead.
There’ll be a surfeit of instant commentary, no doubt, and you might like to take a look at Crikey’s live blog, whose cast of thousands includes John Quiggin, or the Twitter hashtag #budget. Ben Eltham also has a worthwhile preview at New Matilda.
I’ll save my further thoughts on the Budget for a more considered look some time over the next few days.
Elsewhere: John Quiggin in Crikey [paywalled].
Update: Peter Martin says that Swan will announce a return to surplus in 2012-13.
More people lost their jobs today, partly because of Rudd’s incompetence and his punitive Super Tax on mining companies, hitting Queensland the hardest. I am looking forward to kicking this man out of office, and the lift that will give our economy.
More people lost their jobs today, partly because of Rudd’s incompetence and his punitive Super Tax on mining companies, hitting Queensland the hardest. I am looking forward to kicking this man out of office, and the lift that will give our economy.
Elsewhere: John Quiggin in Crikey [paywalled].
Elsewhere: John Quiggin in Crikey [paywalled].
“More people lost their jobs today, partly because of Rudd’s incompetence and his punitive Super Tax on mining companies, hitting Queensland the hardest. I am looking forward to kicking this man out of office, and the lift that will give our economy.”
Didn’t I see this on about 22 News Ltd blogs today? For God’s sake, man/woman, get some originality.
And can you specify exactly where the jobs were lost?
“More people lost their jobs today, partly because of Rudd’s incompetence and his punitive Super Tax on mining companies, hitting Queensland the hardest. I am looking forward to kicking this man out of office, and the lift that will give our economy.”
Didn’t I see this on about 22 News Ltd blogs today? For God’s sake, man/woman, get some originality.
And can you specify exactly where the jobs were lost?
@3, Ignore, troll, etc.
@3, Ignore, troll, etc.
Lead item on ABC News website.
“Swan will never deliver budget surplus: Hockey”
The damn budget hasn’t even been delivered and already the ABC is undermining it.
Lead item on ABC News website.
“Swan will never deliver budget surplus: Hockey”
The damn budget hasn’t even been delivered and already the ABC is undermining it.
Possibly of interest: The Budget and battle-fatigued greenies.
Perhaps they need to invest more in budget submissions and lobbying. (I can’t resist a parenthesised a quip about killing multiple birds with the one wind turbine by having a carbon tax instead of RSPT).
Possibly of interest: The Budget and battle-fatigued greenies.
Perhaps they need to invest more in budget submissions and lobbying. (I can’t resist a parenthesised a quip about killing multiple birds with the one wind turbine by having a carbon tax instead of RSPT).
Update: Peter Martin says that Swan will announce a return to surplus in 2012-13.
Update: Peter Martin says that Swan will announce a return to surplus in 2012-13.
@5 – sorry to interrupt your stream of accusations of ABC bias, adrian, but that’s laziness rather than partisanship. With the media locked in with the budget papers, there’s a dearth of news, and the ABC journo or producer has just pulled Hockey’s press release (timed because his media advisor understands the dynamic) to fill a vacuum. It’s about the 24 hour news cycle and the antiquated nature of the press lock up more than anything else.
@5 – sorry to interrupt your stream of accusations of ABC bias, adrian, but that’s laziness rather than partisanship. With the media locked in with the budget papers, there’s a dearth of news, and the ABC journo or producer has just pulled Hockey’s press release (timed because his media advisor understands the dynamic) to fill a vacuum. It’s about the 24 hour news cycle and the antiquated nature of the press lock up more than anything else.
The words “Hockey” and “vacuum” work together for me!
The words “Hockey” and “vacuum” work together for me!
Polls have always dropped for Rudd Labor around Budget time and dropped significantly, around 4pts based on Morgan.
We’re scheduled for a rise in the LITO to $1300 I think. Don’t quote me on that but it will be a rise from what it currently is. That was mentioned in the last budget for this budget.
As a side note: Now Andrew Leigh is a Labor candidate has anyone read his blog/press release on the Labor site about economics?
Polls have always dropped for Rudd Labor around Budget time and dropped significantly, around 4pts based on Morgan.
We’re scheduled for a rise in the LITO to $1300 I think. Don’t quote me on that but it will be a rise from what it currently is. That was mentioned in the last budget for this budget.
As a side note: Now Andrew Leigh is a Labor candidate has anyone read his blog/press release on the Labor site about economics?
Is there a live stream anywhere for us not in the country?
Is there a live stream anywhere for us not in the country?
Come on, Mark, you criticise someone for their “stream of accusations of ABC bias”, for God’s sake, man it’s a given fact.
It is a worthy comment on what you term the “dynamics of the political debate”.
Come on, Mark, you criticise someone for their “stream of accusations of ABC bias”, for God’s sake, man it’s a given fact.
It is a worthy comment on what you term the “dynamics of the political debate”.
I’ll answer my own question
http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/abc-video2.asx
I’ll answer my own question
http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/abc-video2.asx
I look forward to Abbott studiously ignoring the new fags tax and the revenue it will raise. It’s just not plausible that an ex-health minister would waste political capital on saying he will repeal that impost, even if his party will quietly vote against it in the senate at the time of the done deal of Xenophon/Fielding/the Greens voting for it.
I also look forward to him declaring (for the hundreth time) that the new tax on the mining sector is not only a “great big new tax on everything”, but that mom`n’pop (I use deliberate American spelling) Australians must view it as an assault on the very principles of being self-reliant, liberty loving citizens of this Great Nation.
The Coalition are set to work themseleves into a bind with that one issue. They will
happilystupidly turn against every element of the Henry Review just because of that one point. It doesn’t matter if this means destroying any legitimate sounding arguments they might have adopted about Rudd and Swan not properly implementing Dr Ken’s nonpartisan, sensible, technocratic reforms.Do they realise they’re about to be made to look like defenders of old fashioned McEwenite ‘rent seeking’?
I look forward to Abbott studiously ignoring the new fags tax and the revenue it will raise. It’s just not plausible that an ex-health minister would waste political capital on saying he will repeal that impost, even if his party will quietly vote against it in the senate at the time of the done deal of Xenophon/Fielding/the Greens voting for it.
I also look forward to him declaring (for the hundreth time) that the new tax on the mining sector is not only a “great big new tax on everything”, but that mom`n’pop (I use deliberate American spelling) Australians must view it as an assault on the very principles of being self-reliant, liberty loving citizens of this Great Nation.
The Coalition are set to work themseleves into a bind with that one issue. They will
happilystupidly turn against every element of the Henry Review just because of that one point. It doesn’t matter if this means destroying any legitimate sounding arguments they might have adopted about Rudd and Swan not properly implementing Dr Ken’s nonpartisan, sensible, technocratic reforms.Do they realise they’re about to be made to look like defenders of old fashioned McEwenite ‘rent seeking’?
Climate change funding is a pathetic sop compared to what real action would look like, you piss weak, heads-in-the-sand bastards.
Climate change funding is a pathetic sop compared to what real action would look like, you piss weak, heads-in-the-sand bastards.
Amen to patrickg@15, and to add my two bobs worth, not 1 cracker for oral health.This bloody smarmy PM, who not very long ago pontificated about the divide between the rich and poor when it came to dental, this lying little shit who,prior to the last election made dental health one of his major difference has done sfa and not one bloody mention tonight.
Farck, I’m so pissed off. He’s like the rodent, he reckons we’re fuckwits with no memory. No wonder he’s in trouble in the polls, some of us are brighter than his flunkies.
Sob!!!
Amen to patrickg@15, and to add my two bobs worth, not 1 cracker for oral health.This bloody smarmy PM, who not very long ago pontificated about the divide between the rich and poor when it came to dental, this lying little shit who,prior to the last election made dental health one of his major difference has done sfa and not one bloody mention tonight.
Farck, I’m so pissed off. He’s like the rodent, he reckons we’re fuckwits with no memory. No wonder he’s in trouble in the polls, some of us are brighter than his flunkies.
Sob!!!
Im liking the tax return reforms – people will dig it. Its just a royal pain in the ass for most PAYE punters.
I also like this ‘Tax breaks on interest income up to $1,000′. Nothing craps me orf more than effectively forcing punters into gambling their savings on the stock market, or in property, as a result of the effectively puntive treatment of low risk saving (when comapred with the tax discounts given for CGT etc).
I spose its good (ish) politcs to divert the ETS saving into renewables – but its still ultra-lameassed. People will want to see targets. I mean, look at the scoreboard: http://www.co2scorecard.org/countrydata/
Australia is actually embarassingly rubbish – now doing even worse than USA. Im not proud of that, Im embarassed by that, Rudd. And so are about 60% of us – do something!
Im liking the tax return reforms – people will dig it. Its just a royal pain in the ass for most PAYE punters.
I also like this ‘Tax breaks on interest income up to $1,000′. Nothing craps me orf more than effectively forcing punters into gambling their savings on the stock market, or in property, as a result of the effectively puntive treatment of low risk saving (when comapred with the tax discounts given for CGT etc).
I spose its good (ish) politcs to divert the ETS saving into renewables – but its still ultra-lameassed. People will want to see targets. I mean, look at the scoreboard: http://www.co2scorecard.org/countrydata/
Australia is actually embarassingly rubbish – now doing even worse than USA. Im not proud of that, Im embarassed by that, Rudd. And so are about 60% of us – do something!
I just love all these people worrying about job losses due to mining going off-shore. Same people complaining last week
about skills shortage for mining industry. Self-correcting policy?
I just love all these people worrying about job losses due to mining going off-shore. Same people complaining last week
about skills shortage for mining industry. Self-correcting policy?
“not 1 cracker for oral health”
Buy a toothbrush. It works for me.
“not 1 cracker for oral health”
Buy a toothbrush. It works for me.
Swan seemed initially nervous, as you’d expect. But he became more confident as the speech went on. Came across well I reckon.
I thought the budget pretty smart. I like the idea of more nurses available in clinics and during after-hours times, to fill prescriptions and such.
And the 50% cut to taxes on saving’s interest up to the first thousand dollars. More incentive to save the better.
Also more money directed into infrastructure and freight trains is good. And training.
And a reminder of changes to tax cuts/changes coming up, including the tax-free threshold.
Thought it a good idea to shift the savings by delaying the implementation of the ETS to a ‘Renewable Energy Fund’. Means we see less big green stimulus projects that the bankrupt media can pull apart.
And if all goes as planned, and economy remains stable, the debt is reduced significantly.
Sounds good to me. Certainly “no frills” but useful…and responsible…particularly if the voters realise the benefit of redistributing some of the miner’s super profits to other sectors/areas of the economy, so we don’t have all eggs in one basket and a two-speed economy.
Thumbs up.
BTW, Hockey farted thruout. Unless that was blowharding from the peanut gallery.
And the Libs seemed to jeer in unison during the “nurse” announcements.
N’
Swan seemed initially nervous, as you’d expect. But he became more confident as the speech went on. Came across well I reckon.
I thought the budget pretty smart. I like the idea of more nurses available in clinics and during after-hours times, to fill prescriptions and such.
And the 50% cut to taxes on saving’s interest up to the first thousand dollars. More incentive to save the better.
Also more money directed into infrastructure and freight trains is good. And training.
And a reminder of changes to tax cuts/changes coming up, including the tax-free threshold.
Thought it a good idea to shift the savings by delaying the implementation of the ETS to a ‘Renewable Energy Fund’. Means we see less big green stimulus projects that the bankrupt media can pull apart.
And if all goes as planned, and economy remains stable, the debt is reduced significantly.
Sounds good to me. Certainly “no frills” but useful…and responsible…particularly if the voters realise the benefit of redistributing some of the miner’s super profits to other sectors/areas of the economy, so we don’t have all eggs in one basket and a two-speed economy.
Thumbs up.
BTW, Hockey farted thruout. Unless that was blowharding from the peanut gallery.
And the Libs seemed to jeer in unison during the “nurse” announcements.
N’
Cannot _wait_ for the reply to this. Libs “fiscal irresponsibility” line just lost all water. Abbott can’t propose virtually everything else without it costing more, and his costings will no doubt be ridiculous.
Hockey was so dumb on 7.30 I felt dumber watching him. “It’s based on an assumption that people will buy fewer cigarettes because of a tax. Just an assumption.”
If you had read any of the peer-reviewed literature, Joe, you’d realise it’s not an assumption, you idiot.
Cannot _wait_ for the reply to this. Libs “fiscal irresponsibility” line just lost all water. Abbott can’t propose virtually everything else without it costing more, and his costings will no doubt be ridiculous.
Hockey was so dumb on 7.30 I felt dumber watching him. “It’s based on an assumption that people will buy fewer cigarettes because of a tax. Just an assumption.”
If you had read any of the peer-reviewed literature, Joe, you’d realise it’s not an assumption, you idiot.
“not 1 cracker for oral health”
Oh well, back to looking at dentists in the Phillipines for me.
d
“not 1 cracker for oral health”
Oh well, back to looking at dentists in the Phillipines for me.
d
Slash and burn: 10 sneaky cuts you might have missed
Slash and burn: 10 sneaky cuts you might have missed
If Kruddie and Co expect that this will win them the next election they are on something that I need to get my hands on.
If Kruddie and Co expect that this will win them the next election they are on something that I need to get my hands on.
@kuke,
It’s a bit much for young Leo Shanahan to diss
in his paragraph 3 when in paragraph 2 he graces us with this pearler:
Pot, as they say, meet kettle.
@kuke,
It’s a bit much for young Leo Shanahan to diss
in his paragraph 3 when in paragraph 2 he graces us with this pearler:
Pot, as they say, meet kettle.
Am surprised that they’re targeting those on the disability pension – they expect to save almost 400 million over 4 years – thats quite a few people.
Tax return reforms are good start, but the standard deduction only covers work expenses so still quite a bit of work over donations, shares (which can get quite complex) etc.
Am surprised that they’re targeting those on the disability pension – they expect to save almost 400 million over 4 years – thats quite a few people.
Tax return reforms are good start, but the standard deduction only covers work expenses so still quite a bit of work over donations, shares (which can get quite complex) etc.
Tightening childcare rebates. Not sure what they’re trying to achieve there. I’ll just wait for them to blame the States for the state and cost of the sector.
Tightening childcare rebates. Not sure what they’re trying to achieve there. I’ll just wait for them to blame the States for the state and cost of the sector.
@25 perhaps it’s a case of pot meets bong?
@25 perhaps it’s a case of pot meets bong?
I like that they are going after the cash in hand merchants. It would be nice if they set up a hotline so that workers who were offered such payments could give the name and address of the operator directly and anonymously, if they prefer.
Robert Gottliebsen has rightly already been given a bucketing over at Crikey on his super tax scare campaign.
I like that they are going after the cash in hand merchants. It would be nice if they set up a hotline so that workers who were offered such payments could give the name and address of the operator directly and anonymously, if they prefer.
Robert Gottliebsen has rightly already been given a bucketing over at Crikey on his super tax scare campaign.
‘Oh well, back to looking at dentists in the Phillipines for me.’
Have you checked out Thailand, Darryl? Seriously. Great dentists, all mod cons, cheapo.
‘Oh well, back to looking at dentists in the Phillipines for me.’
Have you checked out Thailand, Darryl? Seriously. Great dentists, all mod cons, cheapo.
Razor @ 24,
I missed most of the Budget tonight but did catch the late news on Channel 7 who had David ‘Sunrise’ Koch on there basically saying this Budget was brilliant for the current economic times. A lot of people will take note of Kochie’s analysis.
I also happened to catch a soundbite from that clown Joe Hockey basically saying it’s all crap that Labor will return the budget to surplus because they never have and never will.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t it a Labor government that gave this country it’s first ever surplus (Keating) and wasn’t it also Labor that produced the largest surplus ever too (Rudd in ’08 right before the GFC)?
Razor @ 24,
I missed most of the Budget tonight but did catch the late news on Channel 7 who had David ‘Sunrise’ Koch on there basically saying this Budget was brilliant for the current economic times. A lot of people will take note of Kochie’s analysis.
I also happened to catch a soundbite from that clown Joe Hockey basically saying it’s all crap that Labor will return the budget to surplus because they never have and never will.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t it a Labor government that gave this country it’s first ever surplus (Keating) and wasn’t it also Labor that produced the largest surplus ever too (Rudd in ’08 right before the GFC)?
Jacqes, it was the Whitlam government that gave Australia its first budget surplus. And at a higher per-GDP percentage than Costello’s ‘swansong’ budget.
Jacqes, it was the Whitlam government that gave Australia its first budget surplus. And at a higher per-GDP percentage than Costello’s ‘swansong’ budget.
And as we were reminded yesterday, it was the Whitlam government that dropped the luxury tax on the contraceptive pill, thus making it more available to working class women.
And as we were reminded yesterday, it was the Whitlam government that dropped the luxury tax on the contraceptive pill, thus making it more available to working class women.
There was a luxury tax on the pill! I never knew that.
There was a luxury tax on the pill! I never knew that.
To the original poster the aptly named Thumbnail. It’s ‘miners’ not ‘mining companies’. Always refer to mining companies as miners as it evokes the romaniticism of the ozzie miner, digging out energy out of the dark unyeilding earth.
Whereas mining companies make people think of old white men rolling in cash.
Didn’t you read the Coalition talking ponts memo Thumbnail?
To the original poster the aptly named Thumbnail. It’s ‘miners’ not ‘mining companies’. Always refer to mining companies as miners as it evokes the romaniticism of the ozzie miner, digging out energy out of the dark unyeilding earth.
Whereas mining companies make people think of old white men rolling in cash.
Didn’t you read the Coalition talking ponts memo Thumbnail?
Allocating money in budgets goes to proof of policy commitment. It is the “put your money where your mouth is” moment that shows your policy commitments are real. The failure to allocate for dental health is a major fail that provides genuine evidence that Rudd and co. don’t know what they are doing or don’t care. This leaves the mining rent tax as the only remaining pivot point of social democratic policy and they’ll need to swing that or die electorally. Watching Rudd and co. is like watching a juggling busker whose got all the patter but can’t keep three balls in the air simultaneously. Tragic.
Allocating money in budgets goes to proof of policy commitment. It is the “put your money where your mouth is” moment that shows your policy commitments are real. The failure to allocate for dental health is a major fail that provides genuine evidence that Rudd and co. don’t know what they are doing or don’t care. This leaves the mining rent tax as the only remaining pivot point of social democratic policy and they’ll need to swing that or die electorally. Watching Rudd and co. is like watching a juggling busker whose got all the patter but can’t keep three balls in the air simultaneously. Tragic.
Chris @ 26, yes the disability pension thing is a real shame. Shame.
Hockey is such a dill, listening this morning to his rantings is like listening to that dog last nite that wouldn’t stop barking three streets away.
Chris @ 26, yes the disability pension thing is a real shame. Shame.
Hockey is such a dill, listening this morning to his rantings is like listening to that dog last nite that wouldn’t stop barking three streets away.
Thanks Cuppa @ 32, I think it might’ve even been Keating that said it was his government too.
What happened with disability pensions?
Just thought I’d mention that Virginia Trioli has been talking this budget up on ABC News Breakfast this morning too saying repeatedly that Costello would’ve loved to do a budget like this if not for Howard’s extravagance and she also took a shot at Hockey for his OTT reaction to the budget.
Thanks Cuppa @ 32, I think it might’ve even been Keating that said it was his government too.
What happened with disability pensions?
Just thought I’d mention that Virginia Trioli has been talking this budget up on ABC News Breakfast this morning too saying repeatedly that Costello would’ve loved to do a budget like this if not for Howard’s extravagance and she also took a shot at Hockey for his OTT reaction to the budget.
@rumrebellious,
Tampons and menstrual pads attract the luxury tax as well, unless that’s changed very recently.
@rumrebellious,
Tampons and menstrual pads attract the luxury tax as well, unless that’s changed very recently.
Jacques@38: my understanding is that saving $380 million over the next four years is gonna to hurt a fair few people, and it’s gonna be harder to claim in the first place, with tighter criteria around the old “availability to work”. And of course more paper work with seeing “allied health professionals” to be re-assesed, just what everybody needs.
Jacques@38: my understanding is that saving $380 million over the next four years is gonna to hurt a fair few people, and it’s gonna be harder to claim in the first place, with tighter criteria around the old “availability to work”. And of course more paper work with seeing “allied health professionals” to be re-assesed, just what everybody needs.
“Swan’s no frills budget fails to thrill”
You can trust our ABC to lead with an entirely negative spin on the budget when virtually all other commentators apart from Liberal Party central is praising it as a considerable achievement.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/12/2896821.htm
What a bunch of whingers we’ve become. Labor, damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
“Swan’s no frills budget fails to thrill”
You can trust our ABC to lead with an entirely negative spin on the budget when virtually all other commentators apart from Liberal Party central is praising it as a considerable achievement.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/12/2896821.htm
What a bunch of whingers we’ve become. Labor, damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
tigtog @ 39 – there’s still a luxury tax around? I thought they all went out (with the exception of the one on cars) with the introduction of the GST.
tigtog @ 39 – there’s still a luxury tax around? I thought they all went out (with the exception of the one on cars) with the introduction of the GST.
I think that the government has been criticised lately for talking big and delivering little. This Budget will play well precisely because it isn’t promising a lot, so it looks sober and responsible and cuts across the negative perception that’s taken hold.
I think that the government has been criticised lately for talking big and delivering little. This Budget will play well precisely because it isn’t promising a lot, so it looks sober and responsible and cuts across the negative perception that’s taken hold.
I can’t believe David Koch didn’t know Rudd doesn’t actually crunch and pull together the numbers in the budget – Treasury does. It’s a sad state of affairs.
I can’t believe David Koch didn’t know Rudd doesn’t actually crunch and pull together the numbers in the budget – Treasury does. It’s a sad state of affairs.
I’m no longer on disability support pension, so the ‘tightening up’ of DSP eligibility doesn’t Affect me personally. But WTF are they talking about. Naturally, I know a few people on DSP. None, repeat, very few of them are fit to work in any kind of work that requires any kind of physical exertion. The rest are either mentally, intellectually or emotionally incapable of it. The Treasury Gremlins or Cenrelink hardhearts who convinced Howard and Costello to be cruel to the disabled seem to have got to Rudd ans Swan. (Or is Rudd just too much like Howard?)
( btw, DSP helps keep people sane, and more mentally together for one thing.
Oh, wait, according to the Swan budget with its massive concentration on health, there’s no such thing as a mental health issue in Australia.)
I’m no longer on disability support pension, so the ‘tightening up’ of DSP eligibility doesn’t Affect me personally. But WTF are they talking about. Naturally, I know a few people on DSP. None, repeat, very few of them are fit to work in any kind of work that requires any kind of physical exertion. The rest are either mentally, intellectually or emotionally incapable of it. The Treasury Gremlins or Cenrelink hardhearts who convinced Howard and Costello to be cruel to the disabled seem to have got to Rudd ans Swan. (Or is Rudd just too much like Howard?)
( btw, DSP helps keep people sane, and more mentally together for one thing.
Oh, wait, according to the Swan budget with its massive concentration on health, there’s no such thing as a mental health issue in Australia.)
“Tampons and menstrual pads attract the luxury tax as well, unless that’s changed very recently”
Depends on whether you call 2000 recent – if you do then yes, it has recently changed.
“Tampons and menstrual pads attract the luxury tax as well, unless that’s changed very recently”
Depends on whether you call 2000 recent – if you do then yes, it has recently changed.
Paul Burns @ 45,
While not good obviously the only official information I have found on the ‘tightening’ of conditions on disability pensions (as if they were not already tight enough) is for future applicants and I haven’t seen anything about it being applied to those already on the DSP.
As right-wing as this shitty government is I’d still find it hard to believe they’d go back and do over current DSP people. Not even Howard was low enough to do that.
Paul Burns @ 45,
While not good obviously the only official information I have found on the ‘tightening’ of conditions on disability pensions (as if they were not already tight enough) is for future applicants and I haven’t seen anything about it being applied to those already on the DSP.
As right-wing as this shitty government is I’d still find it hard to believe they’d go back and do over current DSP people. Not even Howard was low enough to do that.
Paul, I found this:
“But the budget tightens the rules on who can claim the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
Those wishing to claim the pension will have to prove they are unable to work independently and provide evidence they have been unable to find a job through normal channels.
The budget papers estimate the crackdown will save more than $380 million over the next four years.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/11/2896595.htm
Paul, I found this:
“But the budget tightens the rules on who can claim the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
Those wishing to claim the pension will have to prove they are unable to work independently and provide evidence they have been unable to find a job through normal channels.
The budget papers estimate the crackdown will save more than $380 million over the next four years.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/11/2896595.htm
Jacques @ 47 – the dead tree version of the australian had a bit more detail. People wanting to be on the DSP will need to first go on the dole and demonstrate over a period of time (how long is not stated) that they are unable to get a job for more than 15 hours/week. They expect to have about 7000 less people on the DSP than would otherwise happen if they don’t change anything. Its not going to affect current DSP recipients.
Jacques @ 47 – the dead tree version of the australian had a bit more detail. People wanting to be on the DSP will need to first go on the dole and demonstrate over a period of time (how long is not stated) that they are unable to get a job for more than 15 hours/week. They expect to have about 7000 less people on the DSP than would otherwise happen if they don’t change anything. Its not going to affect current DSP recipients.
Mining goes offshore due to tax hikes? Maybe our valuable, finite, resources will be saved from another deal that forces us to buy a billion pieces of plastic crap from China in exchange. Maybe in the long run we would get a premium price for our natural resources.
Mining goes offshore due to tax hikes? Maybe our valuable, finite, resources will be saved from another deal that forces us to buy a billion pieces of plastic crap from China in exchange. Maybe in the long run we would get a premium price for our natural resources.
Bill Mitchell says it all about this budget, in his column for Fairfax papers. Full employment abandoned. http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=9638
Bill Mitchell says it all about this budget, in his column for Fairfax papers. Full employment abandoned. http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=9638
One thing that stood out was the cash splash on elite sport
Who cares about Olympic medals? — Rudd apparently.
One thing that stood out was the cash splash on elite sport
Who cares about Olympic medals? — Rudd apparently.
More likely, Fran, he cares about the fuss Coates might make in an election year and if he wins this year, on the adverse electoral effect a bad performance by Oz at the London Olympics will have on the 2013 Olympics. Circuses, of course, are not a bad thing. They keep the plebs distracted.
More likely, Fran, he cares about the fuss Coates might make in an election year and if he wins this year, on the adverse electoral effect a bad performance by Oz at the London Olympics will have on the 2013 Olympics. Circuses, of course, are not a bad thing. They keep the plebs distracted.
Another dead cat. A dudd budget from a dudd treasurer in a Dudd Government. We need to dump these Dudds. Bring on the election.
Another dead cat. A dudd budget from a dudd treasurer in a Dudd Government. We need to dump these Dudds. Bring on the election.
2013 Olympics? … spare us
I think it would be great if he said … look … elite sport is none of our business. We have a country to run … we wish them well, but this is a private matter. Nothing to do with the state.
2013 Olympics? … spare us
I think it would be great if he said … look … elite sport is none of our business. We have a country to run … we wish them well, but this is a private matter. Nothing to do with the state.
On a more significant matter …
It does put this debate about deficits and the question of surpluses, budgets for mental health and dental and so forth into some perspective.
On a more significant matter …
It does put this debate about deficits and the question of surpluses, budgets for mental health and dental and so forth into some perspective.
Fran @ 56 – I would have thought this would have been one of the first things to get in with the tax review. But presumably it was thought to be too unpopular a change for the middle class voters.
What I don’t understand is why they’ve created a similar issue (on a much smaller scale) for the tax changes to savings accounts interest income. Its a 50% discount so those in higher income brackets do much better out of it than low income people. Not to mention the higher income earners much more likely to have the $10,000 – $20,000 in cash to be able to take advantage of the tax break.
Fran @ 56 – I would have thought this would have been one of the first things to get in with the tax review. But presumably it was thought to be too unpopular a change for the middle class voters.
What I don’t understand is why they’ve created a similar issue (on a much smaller scale) for the tax changes to savings accounts interest income. Its a 50% discount so those in higher income brackets do much better out of it than low income people. Not to mention the higher income earners much more likely to have the $10,000 – $20,000 in cash to be able to take advantage of the tax break.
Chris said:
Populism … it’s the politics of perception. That said, the lion’s share of the proportionate advantage will go to the peiople whose savings are only modest.
On the super, there would have been a huge scare campaign on socialists grabbing your retirement income — one loud enough to drown out GBNT on mining but to make the mining industry and the people seem as one.
Sadly, it’s very difficult to squeeze good policy discussion into soundbytes. Were I trying it, I’d be doing lots of hypothecation. e.g. …
by ending this tax rort, we’re making those who can afford it contribute to public dental care, mental health services, the super of others etc …
Negative gearing is another one that should go as well …
Chris said:
Populism … it’s the politics of perception. That said, the lion’s share of the proportionate advantage will go to the peiople whose savings are only modest.
On the super, there would have been a huge scare campaign on socialists grabbing your retirement income — one loud enough to drown out GBNT on mining but to make the mining industry and the people seem as one.
Sadly, it’s very difficult to squeeze good policy discussion into soundbytes. Were I trying it, I’d be doing lots of hypothecation. e.g. …
by ending this tax rort, we’re making those who can afford it contribute to public dental care, mental health services, the super of others etc …
Negative gearing is another one that should go as well …