What did you think of the Rudd government’s first budget?
Are you pleased so many payments that have been referred to as "middle class welfare" – will now be means tested?
Or are you a bit disappointed, because you’d been hoping to benefit from the baby bonus, for example.
The government has used a combined household income of $150,000 to determine who is eligible for welfare benefits such as the baby bonus.
Do you think a household on a combined income of $150,000 is “wealthy?”
To qualify for a rebate on solar panels, Environment Minister Peter Garrett says people who earn less than $100,000 will be eligible.
Meantime, families with two children and a combined income of $300,000 can get $15,000 of childcare assistance.
Do you agree with the government's income brackets to figure out who is - and who isn't elegible for welfare benefits?
Comments (2)
I think Rudd has missed the boat, which is not unusual given the history of the previous government.
I once ran a group called http://sydneypeakoil.com who presented geological information to The Fred Nile Group, Greens, and the Democrat minority parties in NSW Legislative council that we were only a few years away from the FINAL OIL CRISIS (otherwise known as "peak oil"). This was in 2005, and oil was at $60 a barrel.
They knew nothing. Oil prices are a Federal gig, relying on bogus data from an uninformed ABARE. Most energy departments are lulled into inactivity by economists who just assume that "when the price is right, more oil will be found." Pffffft.
The ONLY way the current inflationary cycle is going to end is when our dependency on oil ends. We must adopt the "Oil Depletion Protocol" (just google it.) We must wean off oil. We must put the 20 billion dollar surplus into trains, trams, trolley buses and REZONING our cities around New Urbanism. We must leave oil.
As a Christian I am angry at the social injustices and terrible economic hardships that will hit Australian families. I am saddened by this utterly preventable crisis. We should have started weaning off oil over 25 years ago — back when we stopped finding more than we were burning! We now burn 5 barrels to every barrel we find... we are using oil our grandparents found.
Soon we will pump just a little bit less... and the year after that... just another little bit less... permanently.
Hint: bye a pushbike, and if you need to fly to visit relatives, do so soon. I am utterly disgusted at the lack of planning for the end of oil.
Regards.
Posted by David Lankshear | May 24, 2008 12:38 AM
Posted on May 24, 2008 00:38
I don't work and havn't worked since 2002. I am on a part disability pension and my husband earns about $55,000. I earn about $130 per fortnight.
We don't have any children but we have two mortgages - our own home, which we are still paying off and another mortgage (which is an investment property). Rental income is $170 per week and we pay $450 per quarter for body corporate(for our investment property).
And, we still manage!!
Ok. We are not rich, by no means, but we are able to go out once a week and have a coffee and perhaps eat out.
The difference is - we live within our means. I don't believe people live within their means.
We live humbly, but comfortably. Sure, we don't have any children, but we have pets, which can be expensive. Vet fees, etc.
We bought a humble home and live humbly - that means, a simple colour tv, an old computer(which still runs well).
If you are not able to live comfortably on $150,000 per year, then you are not living within your means.
And ...God provides...always provides.
enjoy your show!
Stef
Posted by Stefany | May 22, 2008 2:39 PM
Posted on May 22, 2008 14:39