i suspect most people getting tax break are going to be using it to pay off there inflated mortgages. I certainly won't be spending it on an extra two records each week. that means it'll be a long time ntil you see any benefit from these tax changes. Unless, of course, you are up for election in a marginal seat soon.
but i think it was a very good political budget. It tackles the biggest election issues of family, without truly offending anyone. By leaving out anything big for health or education it's kind of stiffled their input into the debate.
Whilst the taxes on super are coming down, it's just one more change that makes me doubt super is a reliable investment option. There's been so many changes, how can I rely on it to be good value in 40 years time when I need it?

didn't see anything in the budget to fund armin to come ova every month and play for me personally in my bedroom

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quote:

Originally posted by tubby the family focus was pretty much forced by labour making their whole election platform there. I agree with the cuts for the 40-60,000 range, that was needed to give something back for people working overtime and really trying to get ahead, instead of taxing the shit out of it. but 80,000 plus didn't really need it, should have kept it in the middle income ranges. nothing on healthcare though, maybe that's a plan to leave the labour state governments in the doghouse in the election run-in.

As someone who is a fair way over the $80K barrier, I can say this... there needs to be another tax bracket, somewhere around the $250K+ area. I work my arse off to get what I get paid, but if you take a careful look, it's the people in the $250K+ bracket who no longer work as such, more just get paid for risk taking with other people's money and lives.

I'm not saying that necessarily the $80K+ should get a tax cut, just that there should be a bigger disincentive for greedy and risky behaviour, in a form that actually can compensate for said greedy and risky behaviour.

If you earn $100K+, you might (I'm in sydney remember) be able to get a house, possibly even a pool. But what about when you can afford 10 houses, with 2 pools each? Who is that benefiting? And where does the money come from? For the most part, it benefits noone (1 pool you can get fun out of... 2 pools is just wanking), but the money for it comes from risiking other people's investments in property and the stock market.

Don't go thinking I'll be suckered into voting for tax cuts for people in my wage bracket... the money comes from somewhere, and as always, it comes from the defensless, ie, sick, needy, welfare, disabilites, etc, etc, etc.

I could rant more, but I'm in a bad mood and have a bad flu, so I'd probably just end up offending more people.

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I'm running! I'm running! I'm running! ... I'm naked!

A very cynical, very political budget. The Govt is attempting to buy their re-election. I only hope Australians are clever enough to see through the smoke and mirrors....

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WHen have budgets been non-political??? I dont think ive ever seen a labour budget be non political, or wait no they care for the people before votes.


Bragi: You say earn 80K+ but feel guilty about where the tax cuts coming from. Ohh fucking please cry me a river. You have no guilt whatsoever. I dont feel sorry for you, and i dont feel sorry for the people the tax cuts are coming from.

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Oh, life is bigger ,It's bigger than you,And you are not me,The lengths that I will go to, The distance in your eyes ,Oh no, I've said too much, I set it up

That's me in the corner, That's me in the spotlight, I'm Losing my religion, Trying to keep up with you ,And I don't know if I can do it, Oh no, I've said too much,I haven't said enough, I thought that I heard you laughing, I thought that I heard you sing, I think I thought I saw you try.

But that was just a dream, That was just a dream, But that was just a dream, Try, cry, why try? That was just a dream ,Just a dream, just a dream, Dream

quote:

Originally posted by Paulie WHen have budgets been non-political??? I dont think ive ever seen a labour budget be non political, or wait no they care for the people before votes.

Wasn't suggesting that Labor are or have been any different, but this is just such a clear attempt to bribe people into voting Liberal it's sickening...

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Originally posted by webmeister A very cynical, very political budget. The Govt is attempting to buy their re-election. I only hope Australians are clever enough to see through the smoke and mirrors....

And I hope they're clever enough to see through Latham's smoke and mirrors.........imho, his "I'm just the poor boy like u from next door" routine is sickening - he's so blatantly trying to buy the "lower class" vote by doing that.......I mean ffs, going on Burke's Backyard with the wife and kids?? Talking about trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator, who may not have the smarts to realise he doesn't have any real idea how to run the country properly......yeah he might be a nice guy to go sink a beer with, but I sure as hell wouldn't want him running the country.....

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Originally posted by webmeister Wasn't suggesting that Labor are or have been any different, but this is just such a clear attempt to bribe people into voting Liberal it's sickening...

And Latham's disgusting PR routine isn't an attempt to bribe ppl into voting Labor???

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Originally posted by webmeister Wasn't suggesting that Labor are or have been any different, but this is just such a clear attempt to bribe people into voting Liberal it's sickening...

The one time it wasnt done, was about 6 years ago when Kennet got booted out of office. He decided to play safe and made a budget with no spending and no vote winners. He got shafted and was probably the biggest political blunder ever made by a politician imo. Costello and howard have done what any other person would do and kudos.

I must admit though, im a swing voter these days, and the budget is one of the last places i use to cast my votem due to the fact it is so politically minded.

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Oh, life is bigger ,It's bigger than you,And you are not me,The lengths that I will go to, The distance in your eyes ,Oh no, I've said too much, I set it up

That's me in the corner, That's me in the spotlight, I'm Losing my religion, Trying to keep up with you ,And I don't know if I can do it, Oh no, I've said too much,I haven't said enough, I thought that I heard you laughing, I thought that I heard you sing, I think I thought I saw you try.

But that was just a dream, That was just a dream, But that was just a dream, Try, cry, why try? That was just a dream ,Just a dream, just a dream, Dream

@ Beemer...
Why is that disgusting? He's from the outer Western suburbs and did grow up poor, and only went to uni because it was free back then.

Given the choice between a genuine person and a fake, serial liar like John Howard I know which I'd be choosing every time.

And who says he has no idea how to run the country? When has he had the opportunity to prove himself?

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funny how quickly this turned from a debate on economic and social policy to an argument over the personalities in politics. Exactly the sort of behaviour we find juvenile in parliament, and we got there in only a couple of hours
must say it's more amusing than the work I should be doing, now if only we could have an all-in brawl, taiwan politics style....

quote:

Originally posted by webmeister @ Beemer... Why is that disgusting? He's from the outer Western suburbs and did grow up poor, and only went to uni because it was free back then. Given the choice between a genuine person and a fake, serial liar like John Howard I know which I'd be choosing every time. And who says he has no idea how to run the country? When has he had the opportunity to prove himself?

I didn't say him growing up poor etc wasn't true - what irritates me is how he goes on and on and on about it - he never shuts up, and it seems like his whole platform is based on the "I was poor like u, so i'm ur friend, so vote for me" routine....yes, we all get that he thinks he's lil mr average joe.....enough already - now he should get on with talking about policy and how he plans to run the country - the fact that he focuses a lot less on that, and a lot more on the "i'm the poor average joe" stuff leads me to believe it's probably cos he DOESN'T have much idea how to run the country..... What little policy talk I've heard from him hasn't been very inspiring - he seems more intent on just pointing out what the liberals are doing wrong, without offering any reasonable and rational solutions or directions for change....it's one thing to gain power through criticising your opposition - but it's another to put it to good use when u get it......what worries me is that he's not offering much information on what he intends to do with the power if he does get it!!

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