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1. Tony Abbott claims that his religious views will not affect the policies he put into place in government. Yet, as health minister he blocked the introduction of RU486, a drug which would allow women to have non-surgical abortions. He claimed that it had a “higher rate of adverse events” to justify the ban, a claim directly countered by the Australian Medical Association who said that the drug was blocked for political reasons. It took a rebellion in his own party which saw a bill introduced and passed to take away his right as health minister to block the drug.
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2. Tony Abbott can not be trusted to tell the truth. In an interview earlier this year he admitted to Kerry O’Brien that not everything he says should be taken as the “gospel truth“, unless it is pre-scripted.
He has prior form on this issue, when he lied about having met Cardinal Pell in the lead-up to the 2004 election. Tony Jones asked whether he had met the Cardinal during the election, and he responded with a blatant lie. Watch for the death stare at the conclusion of the interview.
3. He wants to cut $1.1 billion from the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, which will either raise the cost of medicines, or see some medicines not subsidised by the government. At the last election, he had the gall to brand a dying man – Bernie Banton – not “true of heart” as he was pleading with Tony to add a new drug to treat mesothelioma to the PBS. Just watch:
4. When Tony Abbott was 20 years old he was charged with indecent assault, having been accused of touching a young woman’s upper leg when she was going up to the podium to give a speech. He was later acquitted over lack of evidence, however there are still questions over what exactly happened.
Helen Elizabeth Wilson, whose age was given as 29, a former student teacher, claimed she was assaulted in October 1977 when she was addressing students at Ku-ring-gai College of Advanced Education in a debate about whether the college should withdraw from the Australian Union of Students (AUS).
She told the North Sydney court that someone had called out: “Why don’t you smile, honey?” Then a youth had touched her on the upper part of her leg.
Mr Abbott, then 20, pleaded not guilty.
The Daily Telegraph report said: “Miss Wilson said as she approached the microphone . . . two youths moved up behind her.
“She said: ‘I had just commenced speaking when I felt a hand between my legs on my lower buttocks. I was wearing jeans. I jumped back, turned around, and saw Tony Abbott laughing about two feet away. The people in the audience began laughing and jeering’, Miss Wilson said.”
5. He said “I probably feel a bit threatened (by homosexuality), as so many people do.” as recently as in March of this year. In fact, he went on to say that homosexuality challenges “the right order of things”.
6. Tony Abbott has said that “the phrase Workchoices is dead, buried, cremated”, but he said nothing about the policies that entails. In fact, he believes that it was good for wages, jobs and workers. See below:
7. Tony Abbott thinks that we have no need for the national broadband network. The industry has being crying out for the government to take the lead here. Telstra’s copper network is on death’s door and we need a permanent replacement. Wireless is unreliable and is simply not capable of sustaining our future needs, which will grow exponentially as new technologies and services come out. For our future economic prosperity we need an optical fibre network. This is recognised as being the most future-proof technology out there, with estimates for its longevity at 50 years plus. Article on this available here.
8. Tony Abbott claims that he will introduce a generous parental leave scheme. He has, in the past, said that the introduction of paid parental leave would be over his government’s dead body. Big business is opposed to it, and it is most unlikely that he will actually deliver on this promise. Do not be surprised if this is dumped as a “non-core” promise.
9. He thinks climate change is “absolute crap”. Need I say more.
10. He claims to be strenuously opposed to Labor’s stimulus package which helped prop up the economy during the great financial crisis. Yet, he fell asleep and missed the vote, drunk from partying the night before! Talk about an irresponsible man, not fit for government.
In conclusion, he is undoubtedly one of the most backward looking and conservative leaders the Liberal party has ever presented to the Australian people. It’s also just been revealed that he plans to cut $1.5 billion more from education, in addition to another $3 billion already announced. We need a skilled workforce to be able to compete with the global economy. He will forsake our future economic prosperity in favour of free market ideals. I’ll leave the final word to Paul Keating.
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I’m gobsmacked that the people of Australia appear to be unconcerned that the libs not only refused to have their costings officially scrutinised, but lied about the reasons for not doing so.
The leak about the $800m shortfall doesn’t matter. It would still be a shortfall had it been released through official channels. Couple that with the admission that the “accounting” firm had been working on the stuff since mid-June and it becomes obvious that the libs have always intended to hide their [lack of] economic credibility.
About Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme, I can’t believe no one is kicking up a stink about this, not Labor, not the public. The scheme pays women a set percentage of their wage, so that the more they earn, the more they get paid. Sounds fair right? Well it would be if the employer was the one paying the “leave” payment. Tony Abbott says it’s not a welfare payment, so then why is it going to be paid with tax payers dollars???? Why are poor tax payers paying rich women more money to take parental leave than their poorer fellow citizens? How can this be called fair in any sense of the word? And why isn’t there a huge stink because of the injustice of this ridiculous policy? Instead people are patting him on the back and saying “well done”. Ask yourself, are you happy to use your hard-earned money to pay someone much wealthier than you a stack more money to take parental leave than what will be paid to you or your workmates if you have to take the same leave? Too much focus in the media on politician’s personalities and not enough on policy. No real scrutiny. The election has become just another reality television show with all the depth that entails.
THANKS This is great so informative because you have just given us Ten ie TEN reasons to vote for Tony Abott ! Now MR Abbott has many great POSITIVE VIEWS ON many things including the lives of all including our future the next generation the wider community the hidden innocent unborn!
Ms Gillard wouldnot be here is she had been aborted simple as that Now her mother was so obviuously pro life about her own daughter now wasnt she!!
now Australia needs to be in a pair of safe hands ALP have had their chance and blown it with wasteful spending. We dont need the white elephant NBN we dont want the internet filter
so the VERDICT is in TONY ABBOTT Fit for government Fit to lead Australia Tony a dedicated Family man good enough for All Aussies. TONY ABBOTT PM for Australias sound future! at least Tony hasnt knifed a first term PM so publish this if you dare
ms gillard gives men a hard time she is a man axer Beazley Rudd so who is next on her axe hit list!
11: I don’t live in his electorate.
@Logical, YOU IDIOT!
This is good enough. I cant believe the bile that spews out from the Libs in this election. They still cant believe they lost ‘little’ Johnny!
So who is the minister for belligerence… Tony Abbott?
Logical if you feel that spruiking racism is the way to win an election the feel free and vote for the racist party that is what the Liberal party has become.
Frankly I wouldn’t piss on Abbott if he was on fire. His party is unfit for government.
Reasons to vote FOR Tony Abbott:
1) He’s community-minded and does a LOT for his local area. Tell us what Gillard or Brown do in their communities?
http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/piersakerman/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/light_on_the_hill_is_tony_putting_out_fires/
Sarah, the piece was written by Piers Ackerman, he is a Liberal party sycophant, his nose is permanently brown. He writes for a newspaper that your average 6 year old would find intellegent.
The only reason was that they needed to release it as late as they could. Releasing it late Wednesday means very little public scrutiny I do not see list of cuts and promises on the front-pages of the Murdoch media. They manage to conceal not only the costing but what the actual cuts.
Ms. Gillard is a good family person. She is close to her parents, sibling, niece and nephew. Do you really have to be married to belong to a family?
Coalition voters that yearn for the so-called golden Howard years be aware. Mr. Abbott might be rebirthing Howard’s policies, he is not a Howard. He was Howard’s enforcer and shit digger, nothing more.
There’s so much here that I’d like to comment on, but I have a feeling I’d be banging my head against a wall, so I’ll restrict my response to one subject – the NBN. I think it’s a bit premature to call it a “white elephant” given that it is only just in the early stages of roll-out and I’m sure those who use it will be best placed to make a judgement about it. As for “need”, that depends on how you view our future, which from my perspective is looking like a world heavily reliant on fast and reliable information technology for all sorts of reasons.
From a personal perspective, I live in an isolated rural area with limited access to services of any kind. The only reason I can watch tv is because I have a satellite dish on my roof. I use the internet to do most of my banking, to keep in touch with friends and family, and to keep informed with what’s happening in the world. It also play’s a major part in my household’s entertainment and hobby interests. I’m part of the 7% who will probably never get a real broadband service, and the only reason I have satellite broadband (a service which really doesn’t deserve that label) is because the government subsidised it, for which I am very grateful.
Left to Abbott and his “let the private sector deal with it” strategy, I would get bugger all full stop, and for one very good reason – it wouldn’t be profitable for a private company to improve my services given my remote location. Sure, competition in the big cities may see some improved broadband services here and there, but there’s bugger all chance poor mug me will see any of it out in the back of beyond.
I can tell you something for nothing Logical, between Abbott’s delusion that the private sector will improve public services and his plan to have tax-payers pay rich women enormous sums to take maternity leave, Abbott will NEVER get my vote, and that’s without me even trying to examine the other 8 points on the above list.
Highly informative. Well done.
My views:
Julia More Than Just A Paragraph, Time Australia To Stop Hiding Behind Old-Fashioned Men
http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/julia-more-than-just-a-paragraph-time-australia-to-stop-hiding-behind-old-fashioned-men/
Keep up the great work.
N’
Love it. You go around blogs copy and pasting the same thing.
Hahahahaha. So funny. No time to change the words? So much misinformation to spread …so little time I guess.
Yes he is. But the info in the article is all true.
Abbott should be given credit for tirelessly spending years serving his local community in the fire brigade and NOT ONCE politicising it or trying to score points off it. He has given up lots of time to become a fire officer and served at plenty of bush fires… and not once has he used it for political gain, in fact he tries to hide it.
This says a lot about the man. And it’s all good.
I’m more interested in his public life than his private. I’m interested in his policies which there are very few of. I’m also interested in his public comments some of which are simply attrocious in a modern society.
I could point out that one of the candidates in my seat taught all of my children, does many good things, doesn’t mean I’ll vote for them. A local councillor hands out sporting awards makes them look really good in the community, however this person fronts a sports club, has been blocked from being involved with representative teams and was the subject of four investigations from the state sporting body.
Impressions can be deceiving.
All very laudable, I’m sure. But there are literally thousands of volounteers who do similar things, Sarah.
It does not necessarily follow that they are therefore suitable cadidates to run the nation.
I suggest you concentrate on his record as a politician, not his prowess at lifesaving, firefighting, bikeridng or any other pastime he persues.
Because they are just that – pastimes. Prime Minister is a highly complex, full time position.
Was it the written truth or the one Tony says that if it is not written it is not true.
JJ,
Did you get his “I thought when she said ‘no’ it meant no” comment?
He said it FOUR TIMES in the one press conferences.
“When she said ‘no’ I thought she meant no” is the line of defence often used by those accused of sexual assault.
Is it just a coincidence that Anthony Abbott chose to use it against a FEMALE opponent?
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/samanthamaiden/index.php/theaustralian/comments/things_you_dont_say_once_let_alone_four_times/
So you’re OK with over $3 billion in cuts to eduction? With eliminating funding to help poor students to get a decent education which will release them from the poverty trap? With cutting $2 billion from PBS funding?
And while we’re on the topic of back stabbing, heard of a bloke called Malcolm Turnbull? Or doesn’t it count when Smuggles does the knifing?
“Ms Gillard wouldnot be here is she had been aborted” What a profoundly stupid argument! You wouldn’t be here making ignorant statements if your mother had had an abortion, either.
You can’t make any assumptions about Gillard’s parents’ attitude to abortion because they had 2 children.
And for your information it was Rudd who rolled Beasley. Get your facts right before shooting your mouth off! Oh, I forgot. LIEberal cheerleaders aren’t interested in the facts, it interferes with their ignorance.
If Pies reckons it’s the truth, you can rely on it being the complete opposite.
And I seem to remember a huge spread in the OO featuring Smuggles in all his hideous glory complete with smugglers. Very low profile, NOT!
Just because Gillard doesn’t big note constantly, doesn’t mean she doesn’t serve the community.
He does have at least one of Howard’s characteristics, though. He’s a lying toerag by his own admission.
What about 10 reasons not to vote for Julia??? Very one sided and lacking fact. Both parties have their good and bad sides however we gave Labor and Ruddy a chance and they blew it. Time for a change. Vote 1 Tony Abbott!!!!
“He was later acquitted over lack of evidence, however there are still questions over what exactly happened”.
Never mind the passage of 30 plus years JJ.
As well as ignoring the verdict of the court, would you also plan a major reform of our quaint habit of presuming innocence till proven guilty?
Yeah, it’s not like climate change is a problem or anything. Or that he believes the earth is 6000 years old. Or that gays go against the right order of things.
They just said there are questions over what exactly happened. You assume that means he’s guilty?
It goes to character icey. He was acquitted as his friends said he didn’t do it. Insufficient evidence. There’s also more, far more, which I cannot publish at present.
No no mr abott the family man just feels up women indecently, let alone the fact he will take us back multiple generations, u can’t lead a country based on religious conviction when majority of the country does not embrace it.
No, but there is a distinct difference in whether a person is morally guilty as opposed to them being legally guilty. This was a highly informative discussion. I would, however, like to see this on all the current leaders. This article actually describes Abbott’s ACTIONS, rather than focusing on speculation about the Liberal Party. I think that the author was quite kind at ending the list at 10 reasons – such a gaffe-prone man should not become the frontperson of our Australian Image.
A question to ask before voting labor
If Labor was loosing its way was it due to the leader ignoring his
advisors ? if so why was he left in power until June,
If the leader was following his advisors.. why were those advisors
promoted to the top 2 party roles instead of being dismissed ?
Simple either way there is only one 1 reason needed to vote against labor, you don’t reward incompetence with the highest politicl positions in the country.
Love listening to one eyed Labor supporters. They’re usually the ones recieving all the government benefits. The Liberal government supports the high income earners who are the people stimulating our economy and who are the major contributors towards government benefits. Perhaps some of the one eyed Labor supporters could realise this and vote Liberal to keep the people who are doing the most for our economy, happy.
Fascist shit!
If you want 10 reasons not to vote ALP, just read the Daily Telegraph, they always support the LIBS so, why do you need to read it here? People come here to have a different view, not more Murdoch bullshit
I am a hard working Australian on a little below average wage. I have never claimed any benefits in my life and the ALP hasn’t done that much for me personally and yet I will vote ALP as I can think of others beside myself and what I can get out of any particular party.
I have always thought that they probably set the leak up themselves as lets face it when libs get desperate they get totally corrupt. You only have to look at the Godwin Grech debacle.
Yes , exactly, you are the precise demographic Labor markets to. Those who are the battlers and who prefer to see everyone down there with them rather than aspiring to get up and out of the mire and attempt to make their fortune work for them.
Labor’s radical Left, the greens even wants to have a second bite at taxing people when they die by bringing back death duties.
Sorry they just don’t get it, they lost my vote.
Sorry they just don’t get it, they lost my vote.
@Drunk Guy – I doubt very much from what you had to say that they had it in the first place.
The Greens “death duties” only affect those with over $5 million in assets, but not including the family home or farm, but hey, nice job of spreading the fear.
Sad ,illiterate little irrational non-thinker…none of the above makes sense…the ramblings of a mad man(or woman -tho i dont think so ,as obviously anti-woman sentiments hint at sour grapes-and probably very small ones ) ….no use of reason or logic (or grammar -a dictionary might hae come in handy too),just unfounded ,emotional ,yelps….very funny.
Jane – true, so what DOES she do?
I’ve seen Tony on the fire truck. It’s all true.
The insular peninsula does not a country make.
So your arsehole is interchangeable with your mouth then hhiba. I’m a small business owner who employs people and cannot vote for a misogynist, racist party like the Liberals. In fact a lot of people who are high income earners in my area couldn’t vote Liberal either.
Well Tassie Dave, I guess I fall into that rich women catagory but my household paid over $50,000 in tax last finanical year and when I stop work to have a child I still have to pay a mortgage, food, car etc etc BTW no baby bonus, no childcare benefit, minimal family tax benefit and if my husband gets a pay rise no family tax benefit at all get $2000 pay rise or loose $3500 tax benefit such incentive to get ahead for yourself NOT! Tell my employer to not worry about the pay rise because I am better off with the government welfare. Why should I be penalised for educating myself, working hard and smart to get ahead? BTW do agree about the reality show very over the election campaign and we all know Julia will win.
Labor’s radical left? Hell no. Labor are right wing. They oppose gay marriage for God’s sake.
Knit! AFL scarfs
Sarah. Being a good community representative does not make him a good national representative. My mayor is Pam Parker. She assisted my high school in our fundraising events, and yet I would not vote her into a state role, let alone a federal position. I myself donate to red cross, it does not mean that I have the political or ethical integrity to lead Australia.
The man was accused of physically assaulting a woman. He has discussed his daughters virginity in the media. He denied the abortion pill on RELIGIOUS grounds. His party denied women the right to paid maternity leave for over 10 years – and suddenly they propose a much more financially substantial scheme? You have to question the intention of his policy at this time.
He told the public workchoices was dead and buried a month after he met with the chamber of commerce and promised a similar system to workchoices.
The man operates with a religious agenda, that frankly, I don’t share. His answer to vietnam veteran Jeff Thomas was insulting. His refusal to consider gay marriage, climate change, or a NBN means that he has a very primitive view of a progressive country.
Really, he may make a great undercover volunteer firefighter, but i’d prefer to douse myself in flames than watch him lead my country.
And likewise, I love listening to misguided, uneducated Liberal supporters.
I’m yet to receive a single government benefit. It’s unlikely I will either, given that I am 26 years old. Oh – unless you count the first home owners grant, which I received in 2006 under a liberal government.
If you think stimulating our economy as a high earning liberal, means allowing a law like work choices to be introduced – a law which specifically targeted low income earners and allowed businesses to exploit their staff – than you should definitely align yourself with liberal government. It’s the only government which would allow such disgusting policies to pass in the first place.
@Qld Tanya – it’s got nothing to do with penalising you for your achievements, it’s about equity and fairness when spending tax payers dollars. If it was the employer who was paying parental leave then I would be all for paying people according to their earnings. As it is the Liberal system rewards those who have and punishes those who don’t.
There are many reasons why a person may end up without an education and stuck in a $35,000 a year job, reasons that don’t make them any less important or valuable a citizen and tax payer than the university-educated, 100-grand plus salary p.a. individual. While you’re worried about hubby’s pay rise endangering a couple of grand in your dual-income household, there’s plenty of women on $35,000 a year wondering how on earth they’re going to feed themselves AND pay the bills on just half that income.
Paid parental leave shouldn’t be a tax-funded welfare system, it should be a workplace entitlement.
“good enough for All Aussies” – ????
Must be 30% plus Aussies think he is the worst thing that could happen to Australia. Your standard of “good enough” must be awfully low!
Howard and Fraser grudgingly got some respect from most Aussies, and overseas. But imagine this clown representing us in international forums!!! If he does become PM, let’s at least hope he stays at home 100% of the time!!
“you don’t reward incompetence with the highest politicl positions in the country.”
That makes another reason for not voting for Abbott, looking at his ministerial record.
I watched this and although i agree with a lot of things being said in other places, this was rubbish… Most of the stuff mentioned was irrelevant to this election and the stuff that was, wasn’t fact but words turned to meet the opposition’s requirements. I agree with a lot being said but Hate the fact that labors campaign and support is based around the bashing and neg remarks for the other party instead of what it should be. An election and an election campaign should be about what you have to offer and what your going to do and not whats wrong with everyone else. On top of that the promises need to be made from someone who hasn’t already promised them and not followed through. I have had about enough of all this stuff and I am so sick of being pulled between a side who is going about things in a respect full manor but doesn’t have a good vision or beliefs and a side that has ok stuff to offer but is backstabbing, manipulating and not willing to just promote themselves and let the best win but feels the need to belittle and judge everyone else. How about you let us judge and just concentrate on telling us what your going to offer…
I hate voting time and would normally know for sure what to do but It worry’s me that only one sides playing dirty and that one side is acting nice with what looks like a good cover. After what happened to Kevin I dont know who to trust.
It surprises me the amount of blind believers in Labor but I guess its apart of life. Those who cant think follow.
On top of it all, Abbott also has a penchant for the days of women in hair curlers on Friday night with men harking back to the 6 o’clock swill while recalling how they bashed up dagos and poofters.
Angel – i’m not a blind believer in Labour. I am aware of their short comings, and of their mistakes. I am also aware that a liberal government allowed both workchoices and ABCC laws to enter our legislative system, and I am not satisfied that only one of those laws was removed. This is, in my eyes, the biggest failure of the labour government. I resent being labelled ‘blind’.
Given the choice between a party that represent archaic and primitive views – and have allowed a sexist, religiously motivated man to represent them, and a party that promote a system of workplace equality as their ideology – than I will always side with labour.
“a dictionary might hae come in handy too”.
Gold.
Just be rude and abusive hey mate? No content to what you say just insults.
Quite, jodie’s post is far more unintelligible than the one preceding it!
Lol. Valid point Bill, however we all know that we get the leader with the party (even if that’s only a temporary arrangement)
I should have included that Rx, a little late now though!
Damn straight!
Alana – to LEAD the country, not just be a political manager – a candidate needs to have strong personal leadership qualities. This story shows Abbott to be a man capable of LEADING not just of playing factions.
Selflessness, a history of quiet contribution, and so on, are inspirational and you have to say, inspirational is not a word that comes to mind when looking at Gillard or Brown.
(PS – never voted liberal, not voting liberal today – just saying).
There should be no fear, as you say first you have to have $5 million in assets, and lets face it that’s not very much these days really, a couple of quality investment properties , a decent share portfolio, some super, some nice antiques and furniture, maybe even that old guitar collection.
Lets be real on Death duties, ok. without the ad hominem comments, we finally canned death duties because of the invasive nature of having the taxman coming into the deceased person’s home and counting the toilet rolls along with everything else, making impersonal decisions about personal property of the deceased, as opposed to jointly owned property and other property at the residence, and then putting a value on it for tax purposes and then while remaining family members are grieving, presenting them with a tax bill which has to be paid requiring asset sell offs in the majority of cases.
Now lets ask the questions that never get asked, ok. Why do the Greens think they need the money from death duties, when both major parties, first Abbott then copied by Gillard, claim they will have our economy back in surplus by 2013? Just why do the Greens think they need a second bite at the cherry when people have paid their taxes, followed the rules, and contributed to the nation as required? And why is Labor supporting it?
And BTW you’re right, I never was going to vote for my Labor candidate, I know him well and he’s quite possibly the lazyiest person i ever knew, the LNP’s have brought in some blowing from miles away, so i will be voting independents, and this election for the first time I will not be assisting the Greens in any way shape or form since the ordinary supporter has absolutely no say in how policy is derived or written, it’s take it or leave it, if you actually find out about it for yourself, because they don’t actually tell you.
You know what’s funny, I mean really funny, when I ask people about work choices, they all say it because of unfair dismissal will be allowed, and I laugh at them because they believe the adds that say Abbott will reintroduce Work Choices under a different name, when that’s exactly what Labor has done, and now claims to have got rid of it.
Really , go have a look at what’s changed, almost nothing except allowing unions to represent at EBA’s and not continuing the implementation of it in regards to reduction of workplace size limits. really there is no change otherwise except the name, and lets face it if Unions can’t represent at EBA’s , who’s going to pay them fees? and how are Labor going to get the fear campaign on the TV without the unions to do that for them using your union dues to fund it ?
How much more tax is that 100-grand plus p.a. individual paying? Why shouldn’t their tax dollars come back to them in the same way that they have to pay it? As a percentage of what they earn. Why can’t we receive entitlements and benefits in the same manner? It is ridiculous to say that the person earning $35k a year should receive the same amount of paid parental leave as the person earning $100k a year because they do not pay anywhere near the same amount of tax.
Lets be real on Death duties, ok. without the ad hominem comments…
Drunk Guy – you think my criticism that you were “spreading the fear” is a personal attack? It was an observation about what you were saying, not who you are. I guess we have very different ideas as to what constitutes ad hominem.
You made a statement about “battlers…aspiring to get up and out of the mire” and followed it straight up with “Labor’s radical Left, the greens even wants to have a second bite at taxing people when they die by bringing back death duties”. You gave no further explanation about the Greens policy and most readers would infer that you were stating the Greens want to tax struggling “battlers” with a death duty – by the way, nice slur on the Greens with your “Labor’s radical Left” comment – this was misleading and if unintentional on your part, I am sorry to have offended you by suggesting you were spreading fear. However, I can’t help but be cynical about your intentions, especially in light of your follow-on comment about the Greens, and what seems to be some bitterness towards them on your part.
My god , . . those were the days.
They were the halcyon days of Labor weren’t they, I remember the Whitlam sacking like it was yesterday, and when Joh bejelke was finally toppled like the giant statue of Saddam by Goss.
yep, those were the days.
Why can’t we receive entitlements and benefits in the same manner?
If you can’t work that one out for yourself Meaghan, there’s no point in me explaining it. However I’ll give it a go – taking that thinking a step further – and where do you draw the line here – I would hate to see the services a poor person is entitled to in comparison with their wealthier fellow citizens. Proportional health care perhaps? Roads in poorer areas with less funding than wealthier suburbs? Schools with funding linked to parents average taxable incomes? You think I’m being ridiculous with this analogy? But it’s the same logic.
I say again, if employers were the ones paying the paternity leave entitlement, then a set percentage of income is only fair. Tax payers funding such schemes is fine if it’s truthfully labelled for what it is – welfare – and if so it must, then be equitable. Or do we start paying unemployment, sickness, disability and pensioner payments based on a person’s previous tax contributions? Sounds like America to me. I think we’re better than that.
You are almost as much as a joke as Tony Abbot
We’re not talking about welfare, we’re talking about paid parental LEAVE. When people are paid their annual leave, they are paid (albeit by their employer) proportionally for what they earn. So if the government is going to pay parental LEAVE (and i’m not saying that they necessarily should) then is makes complete sense that that amount should reflect how much each individual earns. Why should people who earn $35k a year receive LEAVE payments at a higher rate than their earnings. They are having a baby NOT claiming welfare.
We’re not talking about welfare…if the government is going to pay parental LEAVE…
If the government is paying it Meaghan, it IS welfare. Painting black stripes on a white horse doesn’t make a zebra any more than naming a government benefit “Leave” will transform such a payment from a welfare payment into an salary-based entitlement.
I think a proper paternity leave scheme is overdue, however, if it’s going to come out of the tax kitty a much fairer system would be to pay everyone the same and have employers make up the difference for individual employees. In all other areas the Liberals cry “let the free market sort it out”, yet here they want to use government revenue to do the job, and do it in a way that uses that government revenue to pay some folks more than others. What makes this one issue different from all those other market-based solutions that the Liberals put forward? Cynical me can’t help think that it is simply a vote-winning strategy that is certain to please a certain section of society, while leaving the less fortunate to think “well it’s better than nothing”.
I did to. Shonky modelling it all smoke and mirrors. Why wouldn’t a man with a degree in economics be prepared to talk economics. I can make any numbers balance if I underestimate participation rates and tweak the modelling and make savings on things like Christmas Island without adding the costings for Nauru. Its not like he hasn’t told everyone Nauru will be where they send refugees. Even sent a minister down there to talk to the Nauru government and yet no funds for Nauru in the costings. Who does he think will pay? Magic boat hating Pixies.
Over $50,000 tax and you still get minimal family tax benefit. How is that so? If you had 3 children under 17 and two 18-24 year olds your payment completely cuts out at $149,796. Tax on 150,000 is $38899 dollars plus the medicare levy of around $2600. So I don’t see how you could be paying so much tax and still be able to receive the minimal family tax benefit?
Do you realise that if a person is able to claim the maximum amount of $150000 that would roughly equate to a year and a half of that person taxes to pay for that 6 months.
Meanwwhile a single pensioner earns $300 per week that equates to $7800 dollars over 6 months. Paternity leave is an important issue and I wholeheartedly agree women or men who stay a home to look after their child should have some form of support but if its going to be paid like a work entitlement then it shouldn’t be paid by the government unless they are the employer. If it is to be paid by government it should be at more realistic levels.
I forgive you for your ignorance.:-) Just because a person walks this earth it does not mean their mother is pro life. It could just mean she if pro choice.
He also said in regards to Bernie Banton “just because a person has an illness, doesn’t mean they are pure of heart”. That also says alot about the man.
I have no bitterness toward them in the manner you suggest, my gile is that I personally supported them for what I believed they stood for without really going into their policies in detail (for the record, I believe this is the way the majority of people see the Greens too) and I’m a little more than just pissed to think I have allowed myself to think that I knew what the party was about and promoted some of their candidates when I would not have supported some of the worst elements of their policy had I really delved into them .
I have very close friends who are both candidates and former candidates and who are very passionate supporters of the Greens who are only just coming to terms with some policies as well. I have personal reasons for my abhorring of death duties as well as a dislike for unfair taxes and policy in general.
BTW, I think i might have taken your “spreading the Fear” jibe a little personally, usually it’s a line that I’ve seen which considers that rather than fact, untruths are used , hence my comment ; but I get where you’re coming from .
Your ignorance is without bounds, therefore your comment, irrelevant.
I don’t care that will not introduce it. I care that he supported, praised and only as recently as May spoke of reintroducing aspects of Work Choices again. Supporting and praising a policy like that shows he has no regard for Australian workers. A charge of heart between May and the begining of the election tells me he is saying whatever it takes, not that he understands the pain and damage that draconian policy caused.
I think both campaigns have been exceedingly negative. Although the tally done of the positive ads has labor in the lead. Particularly as they produced less ads than the coalition. What happened to Kevin, happened to Malcolm and to Brendan before him. That is why we vote a party and not their leader. I personally didn’t like it but I didn’t like Tony Abbott overthrowing Malcolm Turnbull either. Really Kevin and Malcolm were somewhat alike. Both got rolled for making decisions that certain members of their party didn’t like. I really don’t know how you come to the conclusion that only one side plays dirty?
You are not even here about the politics are you. You sound like another troll, doing what trolls do and spoiling for a fight.
my gile is that I personally supported them for what I believed they stood for without really going into their policies in detail (for the record, I believe this is the way the majority of people see the Greens too)
Drunk Guy – I think this is how the majority of people follow ALL political parties, Labor and Liberal included, which is why politicians talk in sound bytes and slogans. It’s a sad fact that most people don’t bother to do their homework. The fact that so many people still don’t know who they are voting for even as they are walking into the polling station is evidence of that.
I could be wrong but I believe the Greens is the only party to have all of their policies available online at all times (90-page pdf). With Labor and Liberal we’re mostly left guessing and what you see is not always what you get.
As for the death duty policy, it’s not one I like either. My beef wasn’t with your criticism of the policy, but with the information excluded and what that seem to imply. Misinformation and half the facts can often be more misleading than outright lies. Anyway, thanks for being gracious in reply Drunk Guy, it makes a nice change in these sorts of discussions.
Sarah, I’m sure he’s a good local member, just as most parliamentarians are good local members, but that doesn’t make him a good candidate for prime minister. His lies, convenient backflips on policy, and wilful ignorance of issues that don’t interest him are what he should be judged on in this election – not whether he’s a good bloke at home, which I’m sure he is.
It may say something about the Liberals’ policies if Mr Ackerman, who is a well known cheerleader for the Libs, has to take the “Tony at home,” angle to make him look good.
More Liberal slogans. Geez you guys are hollow. No wonder you follow a paper bag such as abbott.
PS: Abbott’s name appears only on the ballot papers for the seat of Warringha. Only those ‘good folk’ can “Vote 1 Abbott”. Goose.
Reminds me of this quote from (believe it or not) the Daily Telegraph of 18 May 2010:
http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/suedunlevy/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/a_big_black_hole_in_abbotts_credibility/
An economically-irresponsible lazy hoon.
Only one reason, Sarah?
No doubt your ‘liberal’ state of mind struggled to even consider that a reason.
I prefer guilty until proven innocent when it comes to politicians.
So my question is why didn’t labor actually just get rid of it ? Instead they only made very few minor alterations and changed the name.
All you people that support Labour if you think Labour will get in at the next election OMG? Everyone I know & dont know but have talked to on this issue say they cant trust Labour at all!
Tony Abbott may not be the best person to vote for but Julia Gillard YOU MUST BE JOKING! I may have considerd voting for Kevin Rudd as he had my trust to some degree, but Julia? HaHaHa.