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Topic:
Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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T-65XJ
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
5/12 3:48pm
Subject:
Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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I didn't vote labor. And the people who did are copping a real flogging at our car club. 33% luxury car tax is one of the more idiotic ways of controlling inflation that i can think of. But that's a small matter. I'm not happy about it but not enough to really get worked up about it.
And this morning as I drove to work i heard they were scrapping the work for the dole program. A reporter said that a budget is not just a financial document but also a political one. And that this budget is sending a political message, a message about the different values of the 2 parties.
VALUES? What values. The belief that it's the god given right of some people to sit on their behind and collect tax payers' money indefinitely without conseqences? What next? What other Labor values will hard working Austrlians have shoved down their throats?
I'm waiting for the budget speech tonight. But i fear it's back to the good old days of taking from the rich and giving to the undeserving.
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LostOnHoth
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
5/12 6:01pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
- Date Edited:
5/12 6:07pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
LostOnHoth
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I think those reports were premature - looks like it was probably the result of more Liberal Party disinformation and general grubbiness. Tony Abbott makes the most slimy used car salesman look like a beacon of virtue and integrity.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/workforthedole-stays-vows-swan/2008/05/13/1210444386383.html
Speaking of cars, I think the luxury car tax is more 'symbolism' from Labor rather than a real inflationary measure, after all, it is a Labor government so idealogically there will always be an element of Robin Hood in everything they do. They'll get all warm and fuzzy about the plight of low income earners and spend like crazy. We will then develop a large budget deficit and high interest rates and in will then eventually vote in another Liberal government who will fix it all up but alienate the low income earners and the cycle will begin again.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/13 8:52pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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I'm no expert, but from what I know Labor seems intent on opening up the pursestrings and aiding the battler rather than the white collar doctors and lawyers that the previous party looked after. That's how I understand it. Rest assured though that no matter what he does the Prime Minister will be very...ah, sorry for his actions.
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Even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for God is with me.
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jamesdrax
Registered:
Aug '00
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Date Posted:
5/13 9:46pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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He's good at apologies.
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- Bernard Herrmann
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T-65XJ
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
5/13 9:47pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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I don't understand the direction they're taking with this baby bonus.
Why give it to people who probably shouldn't breed anyway. We need babies but we need babies who will grow up to be productive citizens. Why take the bonus away from people who earn more than $150k. Not that their decision to have a baby is likely to be influenced by the bonus but are we now trying to discourage them from breeding? They are the one's who are likely to emphasize studying. This country needs skilled labour. Doctors, engineers, plumbers carpenters are all welcome. And these are people who earn more money. We should be encouraging them to breed.
The baby bonus should be given as 10% off your tax bill for that year. That would encourage a lot more babies who will grow up to be useful productive individuals.
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LostOnHoth
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
5/13 10:22pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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So if you earn less than $150K you shouldn't breed?
As to the direction, it's quite simple. The government considers that if you earn more than $150K then you are "rich" and don't need handouts from the government. This means testing threshold applies to nearly every government rebate/subsidy and so the baby bonus simply falls within that category.
I think the baby bonus should be paid by way of vouchers to provide for the necessities associated with having a baby and not a lump sum payment that gets blown on booze, cigarettes and plasma televisions.
I also think $150K is a ridiculously low threshold to define a family as "rich". My wife and I earn more than that and we are from being rich.
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Silmarillion
Title: Manager Emerita/Ex RSA
Registered:
Jul '99
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Date Posted:
5/14 2:52pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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The baby bonus should have been scrapped for a proper maternity leave scheme. Fact.
I'm upset there was no increase in the aged pension though. I have two grandmother's in carehomes and the pension does not come anywhere close to covering the fees.
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http://x-realms.net/ Dang it, Monica! I can't live this charade any longer! I'm not a telephone repairman who stumbled into your life - I'm a Komodo dragon, largest member of the lizard family and a filthy liar.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/14 3:12pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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jamesdrax posted:
He's good at apologies.
It was probably the right thing to do, and certainly good to try and make amends and please the natives. However it seems now that people think he will roll over on anything.
With the baby budget, hasn't there been some things put into place to stop people abusing it? Some sort of voucher only good for education so someone can't just have a kid for the money or something?
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T-65XJ
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
5/14 4:37pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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Now we've scrapped the $8000 rebate for solar panel installation for households with a combined income of over $100,000.
So, sign Kyoto, then scrap rebate for solar panels. Do they really have rocks in their head?
I understand this bull**** posturing as friend of the battler from a political perspective. They're making a statement. But how far does this have to go. In this day and age, when you can't buy any house within 15min of Brisbane CBD for less then $400,000 do they really believe households with more than $100k a year are well off?
I think Labor have been out of it for 11 years and they're stuck there. At 11 years ago, when $57,123 is a lot to pay for a car. When $100,000 a year household income meant you really could afford a comfortable lifestyle.
Personally, i hope they keep going. Keep lowering that threshold for what they think is rich. That way they'll annoy enough people to be voted out at the next election.
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Quixotic-Sith
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Jun '01
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Date Posted:
5/14 4:45pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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Australia is self-governing?
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 Cressbeckler 2008!
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Lowbacca_1977
Title: Senate Moderator
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
5/14 5:02pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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I still don't get why they signed Kyoto. Didn't they acknowledge at the same time that they wouldn't actually MEET the goals of Kyoto? I mean, there's only 4 years left on Kyoto, so signing it just to sign it seems really, really pointless.
Although, it does fall in that catagory of 'symbolism only' that I'd also put the apology to the Aborigines in. Done to be symbolic rather than practical.
As for the scrapping of the rebate... thats just, well thats bad populism, if anything. And again, symbols triumphing over practicality.
Hard for me to comment too much though.... I've been out of the loop on Australian politics since the Chaser ended.
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beezel26
Registered:
May '03
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Date Posted:
5/14 8:51pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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T-65XJ posted:
I don't understand the direction they're taking with this baby bonus.
Why give it to people who probably shouldn't breed anyway. We need babies but we need babies who will grow up to be productive citizens. Why take the bonus away from people who earn more than $150k. Not that their decision to have a baby is likely to be influenced by the bonus but are we now trying to discourage them from breeding? They are the one's who are likely to emphasize studying. This country needs skilled labour. Doctors, engineers, plumbers carpenters are all welcome. And these are people who earn more money. We should be encouraging them to breed.
The baby bonus should be given as 10% off your tax bill for that year. That would encourage a lot more babies who will grow up to be useful productive individuals.
Hi, I am one of those skilled labour that was recruited from the states to fill a labour shortage.
Ask yourself a real personal question that will vastly affect the lives of all Australians.
Do you really want me to breed?
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T-65XJ
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
5/14 9:35pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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Is this a trick question? I know nothing about you. If you'd have time to take care of your kids. Whether you'd teach them a good work ethic. If you have a genetic disorder that can be passed on. So I don't know. Most importantly, it's not my decision, it's yours. All i would want is that if you have a kid, you pay for it with your own money. Not my tax dollars.
But generally speaking, from what i've seen and can logically deduce, it would be better for the country if we get more kids from parents who are hard working or highly educated or even better, both.
So i'm actually against the baby bonus on principal. It's not going to encourage the right type to breed more because it doesn't matter to them. And the people who would be enticed by a $5,000 cheque to have a baby genenrally would not fall into the desirable parents category.
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Lowbacca_1977
Title: Senate Moderator
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
5/14 10:09pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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I think that cuts more to the point, is if this sort of incentive program should exist at all.
What about giving tax breaks for having kids? So its not a bonus, per se, but less that you have to pay the gov't in taxes.
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nancyallen
Registered:
Nov '07
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Date Posted:
5/15 8:30pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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That could work, especially keeping in mind that it would be a way that the system cannot be abused by having a child simply for a quick supply of cash. By dealing with the issue of benefits in a more progressive way it would weed out bad mothers who are simply after the money.
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Even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for God is with me.
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T-65XJ
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
5/15 9:54pm
Subject:
RE: Australia's "Responsible" Robin Hood budget thread
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T-65XJ posted:
The baby bonus should be given as 10% off your tax bill for that year. That would encourage a lot more babies who will grow up to be useful productive individuals.
You know what they say. Great minds think alike.
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