Federal Government has not ruled out cuts to the age pension as part of sacrifices in the Budget   :o

    Jessica Marszalek Federal Politics Reporter
    Herald Sun
    April 01, 2014


THE Federal Government has not ruled out kicking some people off the age pension, as it warns sacrifices will have to be made by all for the Budget.          

Treasurer Joe Hockey, receiving a commission of audit report that will shape May’s Budget, warned the Government had “run out of money”.      :(

Blaming Labor’s legacy, Mr Hockey would not say where and what in the Budget he will cut, but said Australia’s quality of life would decline without tough decisions.

“If the heavy lifting is left on the shoulders of one group, or one age group, or one demographic, then it will crush them,” he said.

Indicating changes to welfare across the board, Mr Hockey said he suspected receiving less Government help would be popular with no one.

“But the fact is, sooner or later, governments run out of money and are unable to maintain current expenditure,” he said.      :(

“Well, we’ve reached that point,” the Treasurer said.

Asked whether people who owned expensive homes should still be able to claim a part age pension, he said: “Well that’s something obviously that needs to be taken into account.”

He added: “These are debates that need to be had.”

An unlikely collection of business, union, social services and economists last month called for the family home to be included in the asset test, or the cut-off for part pensions to be lowered.

Currently, a pensioner couple who own their home can have $279,000 in assets and a single pensioner can have $196,750 and receive the full pension, no matter how valuable their home is.

A couple can have up to $1,110,500 in assets, besides the family home, and a single person up to $748,250, and still be paid a part pension.

Mr Hockey said that Australians were now living longer was something that should be celebrated.

“The question is, how do we sustain these sorts of payments and ensure that they are sustainable in 10, 20 and 30 years’ time, not just about tomorrow,” he said.

The Treasurer said health care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme must also be sustainable.

There is speculation he is considering the merits of a $6 co-payment for visits to a GP.      :(   

Has the government run out of money Mr Hockey?.   :(

Crazy Joe is just that - crazy.  the government NEVER 'runs out of money' - it constantly turns over welfare dollars within a week in tax recouped, and is recipient of never-ending flows of money from tax in all directions - finally adding up to 100%.

They have not 'run out of money' - they have run out the budget with stupid garbage that they should not be doing - it's called waste. 

This shows clearly that Crazy Joe of the Hock Shop is not worth the paper he's written off....

Time for that march on Canberra?

wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 6:59pm:

An unlikely collection of business, union, social services and economists last month called for the family home to be included in the asset test, or the cut-off for part pensions to be lowered. Currently, a pensioner couple who own their home can have $279,000 in assets and a single pensioner can have $196,750 and receive the full pension, no matter how valuable their home is. A couple can have up to $1,110,500 in assets, besides the family home, and a single person up to $748,250, and still be paid a part pension. Mr Hockey said that Australians were now living longer was something that should be celebrated. “The question is, how do we sustain these sorts of payments and ensure that they are sustainable in 10, 20 and 30 years’ time, not just about tomorrow,” he said. The Treasurer said health care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme must also be sustainable. There is speculation he is considering the merits of a $6 co-payment for visits to a GP.      :(

Yeah - but you can't eat assets, and they ARE bought and paid for.

How many people bought a princely home for $45k and it ended up worth $1m.. are they responsible for that?  their cost of living has gone up alongside that rise, so they are no better off.

Perhaps a closer look needs to be taken at money earned with some of these assets - how many assets can you have?

I mean - include one home - fine - but two extra holiday homes?  No way.

I guess there has to be a cutoff some where, as long as it does not lead to pensioners starving in the streets....

Nothing this filth do surprises me any longer.

This grub, Hockey, is incompetent, and well out of his depth.

wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 7:14pm:

Has the government run out of money Mr Hockey?.   :(

Of course it hasn't - this is just another Hockeidonian lie.

If he wants to find out what a government running out of money is really like, the Senate should oblige him by blocking supply.

Bam wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 7:47pm:

wrote on Mar 31st, 2014 at 7:14pm: Has the government run out of money Mr Hockey?.   :( Of course it hasn't - this is just another Hockeidonian lie. If he wants to find out what a government running out of money is really like, the Senate should oblige him by blocking supply.

Shame they don't.  >:(

wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 6:59pm:

Federal Government has not ruled out cuts to the age pension as part of sacrifices in the Budget   :o     Jessica Marszalek Federal Politics Reporter     Herald Sun     April 01, 2014 THE Federal Government has not ruled out kicking some people off the age pension, as it warns sacrifices will have to be made by all for the Budget.           Treasurer Joe Hockey, receiving a commission of audit report that will shape May’s Budget, warned the Government had “run out of money”.      :( Blaming Labor’s legacy, Mr Hockey would not say where and what in the Budget he will cut, but said Australia’s quality of life would decline without tough decisions. “If the heavy lifting is left on the shoulders of one group, or one age group, or one demographic, then it will crush them,” he said. Indicating changes to welfare across the board, Mr Hockey said he suspected receiving less Government help would be popular with no one. “But the fact is, sooner or later, governments run out of money and are unable to maintain current expenditure,” he said.      :( “Well, we’ve reached that point,” the Treasurer said. Asked whether people who owned expensive homes should still be able to claim a part age pension, he said: “Well that’s something obviously that needs to be taken into account.” He added: “These are debates that need to be had.” An unlikely collection of business, union, social services and economists last month called for the family home to be included in the asset test, or the cut-off for part pensions to be lowered. Currently, a pensioner couple who own their home can have $279,000 in assets and a single pensioner can have $196,750 and receive the full pension, no matter how valuable their home is. A couple can have up to $1,110,500 in assets, besides the family home, and a single person up to $748,250, and still be paid a part pension. Mr Hockey said that Australians were now living longer was something that should be celebrated. “The question is, how do we sustain these sorts of payments and ensure that they are sustainable in 10, 20 and 30 years’ time, not just about tomorrow,” he said. The Treasurer said health care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme must also be sustainable. There is speculation he is considering the merits of a $6 co-payment for visits to a GP.      :(

You realize you moan about something every single day?

Here's a clue mate, life really isn't that hard....

We are facing an ever ageing population.  And this ageing population does not quiet like the idea of immigration, but still expect all the services and funds. 

Well, this is not going to happen.  The ratio of tax payer to retiree is ever increasing.  The burden of health care is ever increasing.  And Minister Hockey is quiet right that this is unsustainable.   This would be same for any party. 

And if people think that this is a tough call, well, the younger generation of today who are supporting the ageing population will have even more tough days when they get old. 

The best thing we can do, is to become self sufficient. 

tickleandrose wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 8:30am:

We are facing an ever ageing population.  And this ageing population does not quiet like the idea of immigration, but still expect all the services and funds.  Well, this is not going to happen.  The ratio of tax payer to retiree is ever increasing.  The burden of health care is ever increasing.  And Minister Hockey is quiet right that this is unsustainable.   This would be same for any party.  And if people think that this is a tough call, well, the younger generation of today who are supporting the ageing population will have even more tough days when they get old.  The best thing we can do, is to become self sufficient.

>:( >:(  Some one has to pay..  If Joe's got the guts  GOOD LUCK TO HIM  ;) ;) ;) ;)

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 7:29pm:

Yeah - but you can't eat assets, and they ARE bought and paid for.

wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 6:59pm:

A couple can have up to $1,110,500 in assets, besides the family home, and a single person up to $748,250, and still be paid a part pension.

The Key word is BESIDES.

So they can have the family home bought for 45K now valued at 1.5 million & then assets worth another 1.1 million.

It's the same argument over & over these days.

I'm rich, give me a hand out reward.

F.F.S $1,110,500 million in a 4% normal bank account will give you $44,420 p/year, but again if you've got a million in the bank the bank does you "Special Deals"

I'd like to see the establishment of a work for the pension scheme.
A "gray army".

Its in the best interests of the elderly to maintain physical fitness and it also maintains community ties.

As an example, elderly pensioners could be doing a lot of the lower level work in aged care facilities and even in neighbourhood.

So the healthy pensioners should be helping to feed the other oldies in aged care homes. Old grannies should be helping with meal preparation and old grandpa's could help do the washing up, a bit of gardening etc.
In local communities, there are plenty of 65 yo pensioners who could care for local parks, do the lollipop crossings, help in day care with kids or even school tuck shops.

Win,Win,Win

Happy pensioners
engaged and fit
Community ties and bonds
And all can be achieved with little government interference
Indeed, i'd call for a small government bonus for pensioners doing 10 hours work a fortnight in these great community building programs.

I would like to see pensioners left alone.  So they could enjoy their retirement.      :(   

wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 8:56am:

I would like to see pensioners left alone.  So they could enjoy their retirement.      :(

turn that frown upside down crook.
being "left alone" leads to social isolation, depression and suicide (the highest rates in the country for retired males).
community engagement is the answer
it isn't punishment
its therapy  ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

I don't want when I am a pensioner, someone telling me Iv got to join a grey army.      >:(   

I think its great idea!

We could all help in the aged care homes,

Share our walking sticks with the inmates

Take them for a burn in our mobility scooters

Discuss hip replacements and free hearing aids (if Hockey hasnt stopped that?)

Mmmm Sounds Good...Now what were we discussing again....Mmmm... Damn!...Cant remember!!

;D

wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 10:05am:

I don't want when I am a pensioner, someone telling me Iv got to join a grey army.      >:(

crook , it is better to give than to receive. now youve changed your emoticon from sad to angry. this is not good. you must google "emotional intelligence"

wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 10:05am:

I don't want when I am a pensioner, someone telling me Iv got to join a grey army.      >:(

You only need to join the grey army if you receive the pension.

Its a Work-for-the-pension scheme.    Not compulsary if you dont want the pension.

wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 7:14pm:

Has the government run out of money Mr Hockey?.   :(

You obviously don't listen to what Hockey says. He said quite categorically that, due to the grossly incompetent level of debt the previous government plunged this country into, extreme measures would be needed in order to avoid default.

Blame your mates KRUDD and Gillard.

I do want the pension.      ::)

wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 1:54pm:

I do want the pension.      ::)

ask not what your country can do for you.
ask what you can do for your country ;)

You've been watching to many movies.     ;D   

aquascoot wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 8:47am:

I'd like to see the establishment of a work for the pension scheme. A "gray army".

Not all retirees are robust people in their 60s. A lot of people in retirement have bodies that are too frail for any kind of work.

I see no harm in encouraging retirees to choose to do something useful, but it should be their choice. Don't force it on them. Those who want to do that sort of thing and still have their health can choose to do so, and those whose arthritis and other maladies leave them too frail for anything much should be allowed to enjoy their dotage.

But making everyone work for their pension is a crock of an idea.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 10:15pm:

You realize you moan about something every single day? Here's a clue mate, life really isn't that hard....

How would you know? When was the last time you earned an income below the average?

Bam wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 2:27pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Mar 31st, 2014 at 10:15pm: You realize you moan about something every single day? Here's a clue mate, life really isn't that hard.... How would you know? When was the last time you earned an income below the average?

Sounds like the jolly green giant of envy.

How's that go again??

Labor wants to means test earnings on Super over a certain amount and they're the Demons from Hell unleashed.

Joe wants to means test asset rich pensioners and we are somehow expected to think its OK.

Think I'll sign up at the local Sen Citz tomorrow......

;)

Rhet-Oracle wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 7:03pm:

Bam wrote on Apr 1st, 2014 at 2:27pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Mar 31st, 2014 at 10:15pm: You realize you moan about something every single day? Here's a clue mate, life really isn't that hard.... How would you know? When was the last time you earned an income below the average? Sounds like the jolly green giant of envy.

Best get your hearing checked, well.

wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 2:15pm:

You've been watching to many movies.     ;D

crookie, you haven't been watching enough.
watch a few on how grit, guts and determination produce results.
I'd start with Patton and progress to Rocky

aquascoot wrote on Apr 1^st, 2014 at 1:31pm:

wrote on Apr 1st, 2014 at 10:05am: I don't want when I am a pensioner, someone telling me Iv got to join a grey army.      >:(    crook , it is better to give than to receive. now youve changed your emoticon from sad to angry. this is not good. you must google "emotional intelligence"

Just because you think you want to keep on working after retirement age doesnt mean everyone should have to. Some have health problems when they get older and some just want to relax and enjoy life (which they have earned!)

SOB

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