Should Government target seniors, families in budget cuts?

dorian · Guru

Should Government target seniors, families in budget cuts?

KFT · Guru

I really do have some concerns about our politicians.

What is this desperate race to get the books back in the black at any cost?

The USA has been running at a multi trillion dollars in the red for more years than I can remember but it does not seem to harm them one bit.

maybe it really is only numbers in a ledger.

frank

ps Dorian this thread could get "interesting" so I may duck out for some popcorn.

-- Edited by KFT on Monday 14th of April 2014 09:07:23 AM

bill12 · Guru

I'll bet that the pollies don,t have to wait til they are 70 to get the pension.Qld pollies just got a $70000 pay rise while telling the doctors they are paid too much.Tax the poliies , not the pensioners. Bill

elliemike · Guru

Just been having a read about what the suggestion is.

quote

The (advising) group is urging the Government to target the middle and upper classes with cuts to assistance to seniors and families with children, as well as corporate welfare.

quote

The forecast comes after Treasurer Joe Hockey flagged possible changes to the eligibility age and indexation of the age pension as measures to help improve the budget bottom line.

quote

it says family homes above a certain value should be part of the assets test for the age pension and also supports changes to the indexation of the pension.

Mr Anthony says the cuts should be aimed at those who can most afford it.

"We're not talking about cutting programs, we're talking about better targeting," he said.

"So what we want to see, for example with the age pension, we want to see the needy receiving the age pension and we don't want to see people with their own resources receiving the benefit.

"What we'd suggest is that over time the means-testing arrangements include the family home."

Mr Anthony says he would also like to see the family tax benefit income test lowered, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to take a tougher approach with big drug companies, and a broadening of the GST.

-- Edited by elliemike on Monday 14th of April 2014 09:37:10 AM

aussietraveller · Guru

The Government are dreaming if they think they could possibly win a second term after making changes like those proposed.

Nelly · Guru

A lot of pensioners have worked in Australia all their lives and paid their taxes - I think there are others in this society that should take cutbacks including the politicians.

JRH · Guru

What happened to the NO POLITICS RULE?

Santa · Guru

Governments, both Labor and Liberal make unpopular changes early in their term, people have short memories, the pain will be for the most part forgotten by the time the next election rolls around.

Seniors and families are part of Australia and subject to the same budgetary restraints as the rest of us, if its time to tighten the belt so be it, just because we've retired doesn't exempt us from the process.

native pepper · Senior Member

Don't worry about it, nothing we can do, after all people vote for these fools and you get what you vote for. Anyway it really doesn't matter what they do, nothing will fix the situation and you may not need a pension in the next couple of years as nature takes it vengeance against the destruction humans have and are causing. Then there's the small matter of the imminent collapse of the food chain driven by taking millions of tonnes a day of krill and other sea foods from the oceans daily. Nothing humans are doing is sustainable in the short term, not even for the next 5 years.

Just enjoy yourself and realise the centuries old political, economic and social systems we have don't fit in the 21st century and as no one or nothing will change. it's not rocket science to see the reality and the only outcome possible.

dazren · Guru

I am NOT commenting on this one at all, hmm As it is bound to ''blow-up'' ?? and be closed down. ? But really ? the horse has not even been put in the stable yet ?? so we do not know if it will bolt at all ?? Lets all wait until Hockey makes the Budget statement ?? Then we will have an Idea, as to ''What'' if anything ?? we should comment on, confuse confuse This is a bit like Flight MA-370 ??? Plenty of Opinions ? Based on NO facts, confuse hmm hmm

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Like all pre-Budget days ... using the media to soften up the populace with 'horrific' leaks - so that when the actual Budget is brought down all will sigh "WHEW - it's not as bad as I feared"

They all do it ... irrespective of the colour of the Government.

As said, just wait for the night, and then see what actually happens. Remembering, it is normal for ALL first year budgets to be the 'horror budget' - so that in three years we have all forgotten how bad we thought it was.

Whichever way it goes, it is better than being dead

Cheers - John

Friar Park · Senior Member

Geez i love Australia. I'll bet a $1000.00 dollars no matter what Joe Hockey Tony Abbott or Bill Shorten or his mother in law do or say the sun will come up tomorrow and i will unlike some other poor buggas accross the water somewhere have toast and milk on my table.

They there to do what we dont want to do.

Now lets get on with something else shall we.

Friar

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

Here Here, Well said.

aussie_paul · Guru

dazren wrote:
I am NOT commenting on this one at all, As it is bound to ''blow-up'' ?? and be closed down. ? But really ? the horse has not even been put in the stable yet ?? so we do not know if it will bolt at all ?? Lets all wait until Hockey makes the Budget statement ?? Then we will have an Idea, as to ''What'' if anything ?? we should comment on, This is a bit like Flight MA-370 ??? Plenty of Opinions ? Based on NO facts,

Absolutely.

Aussie Paul. smile

intouch · Veteran Member

The only thing I am going to comment on is, WHY??? IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO LOG ONTO THE "Grey nomads Australia " web site.
Each time I find I have to identify myself up to four times before logging on.

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

As far as I can see there is no log on needed for the grey nomads website and the forum only needs you to login if you want to post and then you only need to log in if you logged out last time you were on.

Cheers

Big Gorilla · Guru

Only part of Joe Hockey's statements to date that concerns me is this one:

"He has also discussed the option of indexing the pension to inflation, which would be lower than the current link to male total average weekly earnings." (Which is linked to the CPI)

Meaning the increases we receive in March and September each year could be a lot less or zero if inflation does not increase...

hardynjools · Veteran Member

We so totally agree.

How bout the pollies give their payrise to the young unemployed, (who don't want to work), and that way we seniors who have worked all our lives, can recoup a little of our taxes..... in way of a pension...(before we are 70!!!)

:(

GaryKelly · Guru

I fully intend to win tomorrow's Jackpot Lottery so it won't matter to me.

oldbobsbus · Guru

GaryKelly wrote:
I fully intend to win tomorrow's Jackpot Lottery so it won't matter to me.

Garry my very good friend, mate, buddy, thats sounds like a plan to me.. biggrin biggrin biggrin

Webmaster · Guru

Hi all,
Thanks for your comments. As we've mentioned before, we do not encourage threads about politics. In our experience, political discussions tend to lead to bad feelings and we would like to keep our forum a friendly and welcoming place. I'm closing this thread down now.