Re: Share the pain
 

Well I read welfare benefits went from 80 billion to 130 billion under labour. Surely that needs to be reined in somehow right? No? Increase it then 200 bill? Yeah increasing debt doesn't work.

Re: Share the pain
 

I am and so are you. You want free GP's because you are shortsighted. I want a small fee because I think about where things need to be in 5 years.

Re: Share the pain
 

Wrong. I have no problem with a co-payment. It doesn't affect me financially. It could very well have a knock on affect to hospitals as well as the health of people who can't afford it.

My issue with it though is how this money is being distributed. None of this goes to help this budget emergency we supposedly have. Medical research is important. But so are the many things being cut in this budget. Many of them more important, considering we are already funding medical research.

Re: Share the pain
 

Well the more I think about whats being cut the more I agree with what the govt is trying to do. They could add negative gearing in there too. Probably a bit to much for now. Save it for later. Corporate tax ... well ... corporations don't vote for governments. The people who work for them do. Those people need jobs so any assistance the govt can give is good assistance long term.

The usual rollacoaster, labour short sighted "lets give it all away". Libs "lets reign it all back in". The difference this time is the majority saw where the rest of the world was heading with their debt and didn't want that.

Re: Share the pain
 

But if the major concern is the budget, why introduce the paid parental scheme? Surely if the budget is in such a serious condition that there is a need to introduce new taxes, then this new benefit should be put on hold until the budget recovers?

Re: Share the pain
 

I thought that the idea behind it was to deter people who use the doctor's surgery as a drop in centre, which is why government prefer the fee rather than increasing the Medicare levy across the board.

I suspect that Doctors are against it because most of the bulk billing places have specifically moved to being cashless, which in turn saves them money. All of the associated costs involved in taking and keeping money are dealt with by the system.


S

Re: Share the pain
 

Well the more I think about it, the more disgusting I think it is.

It is outrageously weighted towards business and high earners, the deficit 'levy' a pitifully token attempt, and even then only a temporary one at that, to say they are 'sharing the pain'.

They are only 'reigning it back in' in the places it doesn't affect them and their business pals. Nothing on negative gearing, no mining tax, nothing on capital gains or super concessions. But just smash the legs out from under health, welfare and education which only affects the low earners and the let the states sort it out.

Its a clear ideological budget under the false banner of 'budget emergency'. Abbott reckons he's showing leadership, but he doesn't even have the balls to stand up for what he believes in without, first lying about it, and then making up some bullshit to excuse it.

Re: Share the pain
 

Nearly 50% of Australian families pay no income tax and take much more out of the system than they put in - which is bullshit and why more GST and less income tax is a good idea

The mining tax is stupid and needs to be dumped

The more super people have, the less they will rely on the state - leave it alone

I have no problem with NG but it is not a great system to be honest - rather reduce income tax and do away with the need for tax breaks. You can't blame people for using a system that the government created

Wealth redistribution through taxation is necessary but in Australia (and many other countries) we have gone too far and it needs to be pulled back

The cradle to the grave welfare systems that western countries developed are now killing them and the entitlement culture that this has brought is deeply entrenched - as witnessed in Australia since the budget, and in the UK since 2010

Re: Share the pain
 

I think you'll get your wish. This is all geared towards slashing spending, forcing the states to raise GST, so then they can cut income tax before the election in a perceived vote winner.

Meanwhile the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer, which I'm sure won't particularly displease you either.

Re: Share the pain
 

50% of Australian families? I find that incredibly hard to believe. But even so, is the solution to fund medical research, make no efforts to create more jobs, cut on education, spend 12 billion on broken fighter jets?

The priorities of this government are as clear as day. They want the poor to get poorer and the rich to get richer.

Re: Share the pain
 

I think the story was that nearly 50% (actual 48%) of families take more out than they put in, not that they pay no income tax - http://www.news.com.au/finance/money...-1226910739573

I'm surprised that half of couples with no children have a net zero tax, whilst it is one-in-four for families (although single parent families is apparently at 85% - nothing against single parents so please don't take offence).

It does also say that of the 12.2million with a net zero tax, 3.2 million are not working age (too young / too old mix).

Link is there anyway so you can read the story :)

Re: Share the pain
 

So why is there any corporate tax at all if they are paying with no vote? Why not just cut it all out so that they can pay bigger bonuses to their CEO's? Or do you believe that they would invest this money they save in being tax free on better working conditions, better quality products, more job creation?

Re: Share the pain
 

If someone pays incme tax but gets more out of the system though welfare then they are paying no income tax - but this way requires a huge bureaucracy to administer it (churn) and that costs a lot of money

When I was doing my recent economics module, I found a great speech by Milton Friedman on this subject. I'll see if I can dig it out

As long as the burden falls on a small section of society, there is always going to be a need for ways for them to reduce the tax they pay and NG is one of those ways

Re: Share the pain
 

Actually, Old Sparkles is correct. You said 50% pay no income tax which is not the same thing.

Re: Share the pain
 

:rolleyes:

Shit, I forgot that this is BE, where splitting hairs, nit-picking and pedanticism is the order of the day

You are absolutely right though and my profound apologies for getting it so fundamentally wrong