please explain this to me in non liberal-labor partisan retard terms what exactly is going on here and why its a big deal (or why it isnt actually a big deal) because i havent been following it at all

What exactly do you want to know?

The new government budget has made a number of cuts, is that what you are interested in?

JC Denton wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 11:34am:

please explain this to me in non liberal-labor partisan retard terms what exactly is going on here and why its a big deal (or why it isnt actually a big deal) because i havent been following it at all

Well, Imperium, Mr Abbott came to power on a campaign to ditch the witch. We had an awful bitch of a liar in charge, and Mr Abbott said he’d be ever-so honest, predictable, responsible, measured, etc, etc, etc, in return. In fact, all Mr Abbott really had to offer was a paid-parental leave scheme and his honesty.

Say what you’ll do and do what you say, that’s Mr Abbott’s motto. A contract - an unbreakable contract with the Australian people built on trust. A government that keeps its word, a government you can trust, a government for all Australians.

Six months later, Mr Abbott rescinded on his contract.

The budget’s not so popular, but he would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for his big mouth.

Kytro wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:00pm:

What exactly do you want to know? The new government budget has made a number of cuts, is that what you are interested in?

Cuts ! You're kidding. Just shifted money from one pot to another. Total spending is down by a paltry 0.2%.

And that's over 4 years.

Proposed changes:

- $7 fee to visit doctor who currently bulk bills - of this doctors keep $2 and $5 goes towards a new medical research centre. maximum $70 for concession holders and under 16s

- family tax benefit - cutoff for eligibility changing from $150k per household to $100k

- unemployed who are under 30 will only get newstart allowance for 6 months in every year - but if they enrol in a course they will be eligible for study allowance

- anyone who is on a disability pension will have to reapply to keep the pension

- fuel excise to be increased twice a year in line with inflation (currently it is locked at 38.1 cents per litre)

- pension age to be increased to 70 after 2035 or something.

- a 'debt levy' of 2% for income earners over 150k

- remove the cap on university fees

and then of course we have all the things we already knew about:

- remove the carbon tax
- remove the mining tax
- 12 month paid perantal leave at existing wage - up to 70k or something

crocodile wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:14pm:

Kytro wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 12:00pm: What exactly do you want to know? The new government budget has made a number of cuts, is that what you are interested in? Cuts ! You're kidding. Just shifted money from one pot to another. Total spending is down by a paltry 0.2%. And that's over 4 years.

Well he did cut some programs. If you just want to look at the number or make a comparison then check out the ABC interactive budget tool

Kytro wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:17pm:

crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 12:14pm: Kytro wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 12:00pm: What exactly do you want to know? The new government budget has made a number of cuts, is that what you are interested in? Cuts ! You're kidding. Just shifted money from one pot to another. Total spending is down by a paltry 0.2%. And that's over 4 years. Well he did cut some programs. If you just want to look at the number or make a comparison then check out the ABC interactive budget tool

He did cut programs but only to create new ones or bolster existing ones. Total spending is pretty well no change at all.

Most importantly of all, ballerinas now get better accomodation

Karnal wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:13pm:

JC Denton wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 11:34am: please explain this to me in non liberal-labor partisan retard terms what exactly is going on here and why its a big deal (or why it isnt actually a big deal) because i havent been following it at all Well, Imperium, Mr Abbott came to power on a campaign to ditch the witch. We had an awful bitch of a liar in charge, and Mr Abbott said he’d be ever-so honest, predictable, responsible, measured, etc, etc, etc, in return. In fact, all Mr Abbott really had to offer was a paid-parental leave scheme and his honesty. Say what you’ll do and do what you say, that’s Mr Abbott’s motto. A contract - an unbreakable contract with the Australian people built on trust. A government that keeps its word, a government you can trust, a government for all Australians. Six months later, Mr Abbott rescinded on his contract. The budget’s not so popular, but he would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for his big mouth.

+1  Perfectly explained Karnal.

Breaking the promises wan't so bad, after all, it was totally expected.  Its his insistence that he didn't is what caused the problem.

BTW EmpNap, why didn't you just read some of the many posts on here about the topic?  I am sure it would have become clear to you.

What is happening is simply an AUS-terity based Budget, as I predicted, prior to the election!

This sort of thing has been common, in the past during the modern Economic era, at certain points of the Economic cycle and usually hasn't got too much flack, But for a number of factors it is coping more flack than usual, this time around.

That said, we are now not in the Usual Economic position of the modern era and this Budget will merely exacerbate an Economic position.

The thing is, the Economy is not currently bad, in fact is quite reasonable compared to history & to the Global comparisons, But it is heading for a collapse in the not too distant future, due to a number of Global Factors, which is perhaps what people are getting wind of?!

perceptions_now wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:34pm:

the Economy is not currently bad, in fact is quite reasonable compared to history & to the Global comparisons, But it is heading for a collapse in the not too distant future, due to a number of Global Factors, which is perhaps what people are getting wind of?!

It is only at risk now because of Howard's criminal squandering of the greatest resource boom this country has ever seen. Instead of wisely investing in a sovereign wealth fund - or even spending on useful things like infrastructure or education, research etc - he decided it was more important to bribe people to get re-elected. So he pissed it all off on middle class welfare and tax cuts - which not only squandered potentially enormous riches for the country, but created the structural deficit the government is trying to respond to now.

polite_gandalf wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:17pm:

Proposed changes: - $7 fee to visit doctor who currently bulk bills - of this doctors keep $2 and $5 goes towards a new medical research centre. maximum $70 for concession holders and under 16s - family tax benefit - cutoff for eligibility changing from $150k per household to $100k - unemployed who are under 30 will only get newstart allowance for 6 months in every year - but if they enrol in a course they will be eligible for study allowance - anyone who is on a disability pension will have to reapply to keep the pension - fuel excise to be increased twice a year in line with inflation (currently it is locked at 38.1 cents per litre) - pension age to be increased to 70 after 2035 or something. - a 'debt levy' of 2% for income earners over 150k - remove the cap on university fees and then of course we have all the things we already knew about: - remove the carbon tax - remove the mining tax - 12 month paid perantal leave at existing wage - up to 70k or something

There was also a baby bonus of $50,000 funded by taxpayers that millionaires and billionaires would be eligible for.

But single income families, including many of the poorest in country, would lose their Family Tax Benefit B. About $4000 a year worse off.

But hey, we need to encourage billionaires to have babies right?

The story is this:

Abbott proposed a budget that will cost low income earners, pensioners and the unemployed up to 15% of their annual income, while at the same time costing those of $500 000+ a year, nothing. He calls it sharing the load.

perceptions_now wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:34pm:

What is happening is simply an AUS-terity based Budget, as I predicted, prior to the election! This sort of thing has been common, in the past during the modern Economic era, at certain points of the Economic cycle and usually hasn't got too much flack, But for a number of factors it is coping more flack than usual, this time around. That said, we are now not in the Usual Economic position of the modern era and this Budget will merely exacerbate an Economic position. The thing is, the Economy is not currently bad, in fact is quite reasonable compared to history & to the Global comparisons, But it is heading for a collapse in the not too distant future, due to a number of Global Factors, which is perhaps what people are getting wind of?!

PN, I believe you are correct.  I wonder how many watched the value of their Super during the GFC.  I know that for 2 years my contributions barely covered my Super losses.  If I was young that would have been disappointing but not major, because there will also be boom years to make up for it.  Unfortunately, at my age it is a major setback and there is now way I can recover the losses.

perceptions_now wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:34pm:

What is happening is simply an AUS-terity based Budget, as I predicted, prior to the election! This sort of thing has been common, in the past during the modern Economic era, at certain points of the Economic cycle and usually hasn't got too much flack, But for a number of factors it is coping more flack than usual, this time around. That said, we are now not in the Usual Economic position of the modern era and this Budget will merely exacerbate an Economic position. The thing is, the Economy is not currently bad, in fact is quite reasonable compared to history & to the Global comparisons, But it is heading for a collapse in the not too distant future, due to a number of Global Factors, which is perhaps what people are getting wind of?!

PN, this is no austerity budget. Spending is only down 0.2% over 4 years. Austerity for some maybe.

crocodile wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 2:26pm:

perceptions_now wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 12:34pm: What is happening is simply an AUS-terity based Budget, as I predicted, prior to the election! This sort of thing has been common, in the past during the modern Economic era, at certain points of the Economic cycle and usually hasn't got too much flack, But for a number of factors it is coping more flack than usual, this time around. That said, we are now not in the Usual Economic position of the modern era and this Budget will merely exacerbate an Economic position. The thing is, the Economy is not currently bad, in fact is quite reasonable compared to history & to the Global comparisons, But it is heading for a collapse in the not too distant future, due to a number of Global Factors, which is perhaps what people are getting wind of?! PN, this is no austerity budget. Spending is only down 0.2% over 4 years. Austerity for some maybe.

I'm glad you at last recognise it - its for SOME only - the ones least able to afford it.

Cliff48 wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 2:30pm:

crocodile wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 2:26pm: perceptions_now wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 12:34pm: What is happening is simply an AUS-terity based Budget, as I predicted, prior to the election! This sort of thing has been common, in the past during the modern Economic era, at certain points of the Economic cycle and usually hasn't got too much flack, But for a number of factors it is coping more flack than usual, this time around. That said, we are now not in the Usual Economic position of the modern era and this Budget will merely exacerbate an Economic position. The thing is, the Economy is not currently bad, in fact is quite reasonable compared to history & to the Global comparisons, But it is heading for a collapse in the not too distant future, due to a number of Global Factors, which is perhaps what people are getting wind of?! PN, this is no austerity budget. Spending is only down 0.2% over 4 years. Austerity for some maybe. I'm glad you at last recognise it - its for SOME only - the ones least able to afford it.

What's with the 'at last' bit.

JC Denton wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 11:34am:

please explain this to me in non liberal-labor partisan retard terms what exactly is going on here and why its a big deal (or why it isnt actually a big deal) because i havent been following it at all

Abbot is trying to stand between a) some people and b) some other people's money. The people in group a) are not happy. Those in group b) are.


It's always the same story.

John Smith wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 12:59pm:

The story is this: Abbott proposed a budget that will cost low income earners, pensioners and the unemployed up to 15% of their annual income, while at the same time costing those of $500 000+ a year, nothing. He calls it sharing the load.

True, but he did promise to stop the boats, so there is that.

Soren wrote on May 22^nd, 2014 at 6:25pm:

JC Denton wrote on May 22nd, 2014 at 11:34am: please explain this to me in non liberal-labor partisan retard terms what exactly is going on here and why its a big deal (or why it isnt actually a big deal) because i havent been following it at all Abbot is trying to stand between a) some people and b) some other people's money. The people in group a) are not happy. Those in group b) are. It's always the same story.

Let’s all hope we don’t get the GST on processed stool, old boy.

That’ll put off your customers.

         Try this:

Low-income couples with children and single parents will bear the brunt of the Abbott Government's first budget, losing up to 15 per cent of their disposable income when the full impact hits, according to independent modelling.

The findings from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) at Canberra University stand in stark contrast to the Government's insistence that the budget is "fair" and "shares the burden".

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It shows that the poorest 20 per cent of Australian families will pay $1.1 billion more towards the Government than the richest households.

Fairfax has published the findings of the report and how it arrived at it.

By dividing the community into five segments or quintiles, each with a little over 2.5 million families, NATSEM finds the poorest 20 per cent ($35,000 or less in disposable annual income) will forego $2.9 billion over four years. 

Nearly $6 billion in Budget cuts will falls on the middle quintile of households, those earning between $45,000 and $63,000.

Families with school-age children are the hardest hit. Across all income groups, they will lose $15.9 billion over four years, more than 90 per cent of the total.

The Abbot Government has cut almost $7.5 billion over the forward estimates by freezing family payments and axing some benefits altogether.

Most of these measures come into play beginning on July 1, 2015.

Eligibility thresholds for payments will also be frozen for two years, letting inflation reduce the cut-off for benefits over time.

Source: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/natsem-confirms--australia-s-poorest-hardest-hit-by-budget-223950750.html