Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

[medhead]

How about putting up GST, cutting benefits and putting up the lower rate of tax because lots of people are on that so it should raise plenty.

That way we can all share the burden.

And the screaming on AFF alone when benefits like PHI rebate are cut?

 

[whatmeworry]

Didn't know which thread to put this link in.
ALP pamphlets cricket fans at Ashes

 

[Sprucegoose]

And the screaming on AFF alone when benefits like PHI rebate are cut?

that will be reversed first off

 

[drsmithy]

Actually I'd really like Rudd to announce that he was going to remove negative gearing as long as he does it well before the election so that everyone can decide if that's what they want or not.

I don't want a "there will be no removal of negative gearing under a Government I lead " sort of thing and then change his mind; we've been there before.

Well if that were going to happen then the removal of negative gearing would already have been Labor policy for two elections.

 

[drsmithy]

I'm thinking we could have used the cash that was shoved down the throats of the pokies, posted to the dead, deposited into the accounts of people living in other countries, etc - a little bit better.

Yet you think a handful of people whose jobs rely on a tax dodge are critical to the economy ?

 

[drsmithy]

How about putting up GST, cutting benefits and putting up the lower rate of tax because lots of people are on that so it should raise plenty.

Oh, absolutely. It's _way_ to easy being poor right now. I mean, they often get three meals a day ! That sort of decadence just breeds laziness.

 

[drsmithy]

Yes I agree they're both fairly poor.

It's just a shame we don't have anyone like Margaret Thatcher to choose.

She was great.

It's true. There's still some residual job security and class mobility left in the western world - we really need another iron lady to stamp it out once and for all so everyone knows their place and sticks to it.

Don't worry though, I'm sure Abbot will do his best to see her dream of a new feudalism come to fruition in the Antipodes.

 

[medhead]

that will be reversed first off

Interesting. coalition supporters demanding reduced benefits. Other coalition supporters saying benefits will be increased. You're in for a surprise if you think Abbott will bring back the PHI rebate. The budget can't afford it and if he's stupid enough to promise a return it'll quickly become non-core.

 

[drsmithy]

Interesting. coalition supporters demanding reduced benefits. Other coalition supporters saying benefits will be increased.

Well, it depends on the _type_ of benefits.

If they're benefits for people who probably don't really need much help - like, say, PHI rebates (before the income tests) - then they're ok.
If they're benefits for people who probably do need help - like, say, rent assistance - then they're just helping bludgers and should be canned.

 

[Skyring]

Well if that were going to happen then the removal of negative gearing would already have been Labor policy for two elections.

Just like offshore processing, yeah?

Hard to know what you're going to get with Labor nowadays. Whatever the leader reckons is good for a headline, I suppose.

 

[Skyring]

Oh, absolutely. It's _way_ to easy being poor right now. I mean, they often get three meals a day ! That sort of decadence just breeds laziness.

Yeah. Too many bloody taxes sucking away dollars from pockets that have too few to begin with.

Not another tax on the poor!

Call it a levy instead.

 

[amaroo]

Yet you think a handful of people whose jobs rely on a tax dodge are critical to the economy ?

Please explain.

 

[Pushka]

I'm just sick of being lectured to on the radio telling me I can no longer bring in boatloads of asylum seekers.

 

[HarryB]

Hard to know what you're going to get with Labor nowadays. Whatever the leader reckons is good for a headline, I suppose.

And this is different to the LNP how?

 

[Skyring]

And this is different to the LNP how?

One used to be able to bank on some core Labor values. Gillard sold out to the Greens. Rudd just doesn't care about Labor at all. He cares about Rudd and if he were in any other party he'd say exactly the same things.

Turnbull would be much the same as Rudd, I suggest.

Are we voting for a proven party philosophy, or are we just cheering on the captains of two otherwise identical teams?

The Greens, at least, are being solid about their core values. I may not agree with them, but they give their voters value for money, and what is on the tin is what you get.

With Abbott and the Liberal/Nationals, I can see a consistency of philosophy. It's not all Abbott.

For Rudd, I can't see that. He stands for being elected and he will dispose of anything that stands in his way, whether it be a deeply entrenched Labor position or not.

 

[drsmithy]

Yeah. Too many bloody taxes sucking away dollars from pockets that have too few to begin with.

Not another tax on the poor!

Call it a levy instead.

The poor generally receive more in benefits than they pay in tax (if they pay any tax at all).

Generally speaking, you won't find many countries that tax less than Australia. We are a low-taxing society (especially in the context of the publicly-funded services available).

 

[drsmithy]

Please explain.

Weren't you one of the people talking about all the job losses the change to FBT enforcement on cars was going to bring on ?

 

[drsmithy]

With Abbott and the Liberal/Nationals, I can see a consistency of philosophy. It's not all Abbott.

Can you outline how policies like massively expensive maternity leave schemes and big-Government centrally planned "direct action" schemes are consistent with (ostensibly) small-Government, free-market Liberal philosophy ?

 

[amaroo]

Weren't you one of the people talking about all the job losses the change to FBT enforcement on cars was going to bring on ?

Nope......

Dumping tax assistance to the likes of Holden should be the next move - talk about propping up a dead industry.

 

[11sjw]

Actually I said the friend or the boss.

And I maintain, a sound business doesn't go from prosperous to broken overnight unless there's something else going on.

They didn't say they were going broke they talked of letting go large chunks of their workforce. Big difference. You called BS I showed you a published article that disagreed with your comment.

So why are you concerned ? Clearly your benefit will remain the same. No-one is suggesting people who legitimately use their vehicles for work purposes should not be allowed to claim.

I'm not, hence the "I'll leave FBT reform discussion to others" comment.

Of course it can. But the same applies to any form of tax deduction - are you trying to argue we should allow any tax deduction people want to claim without even basic requirements for verification ?

I know our company supplies odometer readings at 6 monthly intervals on signed declarations. Something like that should suffice.