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The consequences of our government cuddling up to Japan (militarily) could be economic. If China decides to place sanctions on Australia’s coal industry in favour of accelerating their own renewable energy push, we could see many more Australian jobs lost. International diplomacy is an art form Julie Bishop and David Johnston have certainly not mastered.
I have never before witnessed governments so unprepared to govern, including the cruel federal LNP with their “war against the poor” and the Queensland LNP with their fire sale of assets. Australian’s voted for a government who promised “no cuts to health or education” then proceeded to cut $80 billion from State funding, “no cuts to the ABC or SBS” and now $1.1 billion cut from the ABC alone. Newman promised “no asset sales before an election” and “that public servants had nothing to fear from an LNP government” we now have the Townsville and Gladstone ports and the Mt Isa to Townsville rail line up for a 99 year tender, which is tantamount to privatization, and 15,000 public servants sacked. They simply can’t be believed.
There has long been the potential for the ultra-right wing faction to take control of the LNP, and now it has occurred. Our only protection is people prepared to stand up and protest on our behalf, and thankfully hundreds of thousands in the past 10 months have done so.
Hockey has resorted to turning Australian against Australian by quoting fuzzy welfare figures. His policies of cutting pension concessions, applying a great big new GP Tax on top of an increased Prescription tax are simply not fair.
Hockey has inadvertently revealed that only 12 corporations in Australia pay approximately a third of all corporate tax. When we are told we all need to share the heavy lifting, surely there should be many, many more.
It is abundantly clear from Hockey’s speech to the Sydney Institute that he has no concept of fairness. Mr Hockey once again tried to divide. In the 30 years I was able to work before becoming disabled I took pride in my work and my ability to pay tax because I knew my small contribution was helping to build this great nation and to assist my fellow Australian who was doing it tougher than I was.
For those who can afford it, the payment of tax is a privilege which provides egalitarian progress for Australia for all citizens. Until fairness is restored in revenue Australia will certainly have a budget emergency on the revenue side of the ledger.
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We have seen TV reports of increased stress and anxiety which has caused pensioners insomnia and other stress-related symptoms. Let me reiterate some of the financial pressure points on our small pension incomes: the GP Tax, the Prescription Tax, the extra $200/ fortnight costs faced by over 50’s pensioners (according to research out of Canberra University), the added fuel costs (which will continuee rising), the flow on effects to the price of food and other commodities. The LNP can’t run an economy for average people, only the obscenely wealthy… it is their “war against the poor.”
The majority of voters want Hockey’s blocked in the Senate, including 40% of LNP supporters.
I have said repeatedly that our budget issues exist solely in the area of revenue. Our national debt is well under control, and most seem to realise this despite the ongoing rhetoric and scare campaigns. Those who are benefiting from huge incomes are not contributing their ‘fair share’ and never have. We can no longer afford to carry these dead weights and need to see bigger contributions from our highest income earners. Hockey said "everyone" must make a contribution to the heavy lifting.
The LNP has attacked ordinary people via the health and education systems, and has attacked the poorest citizens i.e. pensioners. They have always been considered mean & tricky but after this budget fiasco we now see them as “cruel”
Why attack the most vulnerable people in our community, while leaving the rich untouched?