Sensational Transformational Budget from Joe Hockey, well done Joe........

[AHLUNGOR]

Mate if the labor party did such a great job running the country why did they lose the last election? Why does Australia have so much debt? It's all very good giving everyone a tv and deadly pink bats but someone needs to pay for it. Why not give a millionaire banker $50000 in tax payers money to have a baby? How much tax do you think that person has paid throughout her career only for the labor party to just piss it down the drain. The only thing the labor party are good at are thinking up stupid policy on the run with not idea of how to pay for it and of course stabbing each other in the back. Now you have a complete turncoat union puppet as your leader. Hilarious. If the majority of Australians got off their arse, used the generous hecs scheme to better themselves and took a job that may not appeal to them from time to time they may not need a hand out. Too much pride to do a shit job and to much sense of entitlement. Imagine how much debt this country would have if the Howard government didn't leave Rudd a massive surplus?

Well said Brother Henry !!

LIKE !! LIKE !! LIKE !!

[waynekerr]

Mate if the labor party did such a great job running the country why did they lose the last election? Why does Australia have so much debt? It's all very good giving everyone a tv and deadly pink bats but someone needs to pay for it. Why not give a millionaire banker $50000 in tax payers money to have a baby? How much tax do you think that person has paid throughout her career only for the labor party to just piss it down the drain. The only thing the labor party are good at are thinking up stupid policy on the run with not idea of how to pay for it and of course stabbing each other in the back. Now you have a complete turncoat union puppet as your leader. Hilarious. If the majority of Australians got off their arse, used the generous hecs scheme to better themselves and took a job that may not appeal to them from time to time they may not need a hand out. Too much pride to do a shit job and to much sense of entitlement. Imagine how much debt this country would have if the Howard government didn't leave Rudd a massive surplus?

Is this true?

Or did you hear it on 2GB.

WayneK.

[greybeard_]

Rudd's two stimilus spending programs totalled around $50B. To put this amount in perspective, the current annual budget deficit is around $50B and total government debt is $300B

I personally think the stimulus spending was poor economic policy. However, it clearly wasn't a primary contributor to our budget deficit problem

Public spending in general hasn't even been a big factor. Government expenditure (as a proportion of GDP) remained constant throught Howard / Rudd governments.

The reason for the budget deficit is declining revenues, particularly from company taxes, following the GFC and tapering of the mining boom.

I don't disagree that the budget deficit needs to be addressed, but to lay the blame solely at the feet of the previous government is not supported by the facts

[AHLUNGOR]

I don't disagree that the budget deficit needs to be addressed, but to lay the blame solely at the feet of the previous government is not supported by the facts

Had Labour ever been a successful or responsible economic manager when they are in power.

All I can remember was when we had a Labour government, they rang up huge debts and it was up to the Liberal government to fix the problem and brought us back to surplus. Those are the facts !!

[wilisno]

Had Labour ever been a successful or responsible economic manager when they are in power.

All I can remember was when we had a Labour government, they rang up huge debts and it was up to the Liberal government to fix the problem and brought us back to surplus. Those are the facts !!

Part of the reason was Labour had to fix problems left behind from the Libs, cost big money to fix education, hospitals and all others that were in disrepair !

You don't have to service your car it still can run for a couple of years, but when the repair bill comes, it will be big !

[lockhart]

Agree wholeheartedly.. Liberal pulled down the social structure then shamelessly claim credit as "prudent financial manager" . At the turn of government Labor act to fix the mess caused by Liberal . During Howard/Costello era no investment made on Infra-structure nor innovative developments while gave away money i.e Baby Bonus etc should be spent to establish more Child Care services center and hospital ! Tony A / Joe H budge item on infra-structure to build more highway without inclusion of nation wide Advanced Rail/ High Speed Train can tell how lazy and short-sighted they are!!!

Only biased minded individuals kept overlooking GFC , the main contributor to deficit if no action taken. Julia G been abused as "LIAR" when she introduced Carbon Tax ( a program to generate revenue and offer a safer environment for out next generations to come). Tony Abott is much worse comparative, guy without integrity and deserved DD to follow .

Part of the reason was Labour had to fix problems left behind from the Libs, cost big money to fix education, hospitals and all others that were in disrepair !

You don't have to service your car it still can run for a couple of years, but when the repair bill comes, it will be big !

[greybeard_]

There is not a single fact in your post.

Lets cut the bullshit and talk FACTS shall we:

Under the Fraser government (when John Howard was Treasurer) public debt was 10.8% of GDP

Under Hawke / keating it fell to 4% of GDP.

Under the Howard government public debt was paid off. This was achieved through the sale of Telstra.

Under Rudd / Gillard public debt increased to 9.2%. This was due primarily to a large decline in budget revenues following the gfc / tapering of the mining boom.

This level of debt was less than that of the fraser government.

The Abbott government proposes to cut expenditure and bring debt levels down to 7.2%. This is almost twice the level of the hawke / keating government.

Had Labour ever been a successful or responsible economic manager when they are in power.

All I can remember was when we had a Labour government, they rang up huge debts and it was up to the Liberal government to fix the problem and brought us back to surplus. Those are the facts !!

[lockhart]

Still remember what was said when Tony A was in Opposition.
No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS, No New Tax, No surprises...

Open Minded Ordinary Australia to judge his integrity and how ethical he is !!!!!!...

Look forward to State Premier meeting outcomes tomorrow... Kick the guts out !

[cleetusvandamme]

"Well, I can understand why just at the moment politicians aren’t much trusted because we’ve had too many politicians who say one thing before an election to win votes and then do the opposite after the election…"
Tony Abbott, Newcastle radio, June 13, 2013.

No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS.
Tony Abbott, SBS NEWS – September 6, 2013

" we're not going to raise fees ... I am not even considering it because we promised that we wouldn’t."
Christopher Pyne, Sky News - November 7, 2013

[CunningLinguist]

Mr Abbot by his own admission says you can't trust him.

[Licker]

Mr Abbot by his own admission says you can't trust him.

So when you think about it, he's actually a very trustworthy and honest guy.

Here's how it goes...
"Don't believe what I say, I'll do whatever it takes to get the job done!"
"We won't issues any new fees or cut benefits."
"Didn't you hear what I first said?"

And truth to be told... that's the only way to get elected in Australia (or most of the other "democratic" world).

[lockhart]

Infamous declaration from Tony A to Tony Winsor in last last election "I will sell my Ass to get into the LODGE"
Anyway LPN a bunch of lair

Quote
Christopher "Poodles" Pyne's promise to Sky News on November 7 last year that " we're not going to raise fees ... I am not even considering it because we promised that we wouldn’t."

[cleetusvandamme]

And truth to be told... that's the only way to get elected in Australia (or most of the other "democratic" world).

And I'm sure you had the same forgiving attitude about Gillard and the carbon tax!
I know Tony did...

[wilisno]

I don't know why some people think that GST can fix the tax cheats problems !

GST is paid by consumers, not manufacturers, the amount of tax avoided by buying things without paying GST is trivial comparing to tax avoided by big companies.

By increasing GST and introducing GST to cover some sources of goods can only affect consumers, the little people !

[Licker]

And I'm sure you had the same forgiving attitude about Gillard and the carbon tax!
I know Tony did...

I would not call it forgiving attitude.
I have just given up on the politician all ready (almost). Once in a blue moon one comes up that has some integrity.

Mostly when looking at the interviews before erections (typo is intentional) I just listen and think "okay, so that is definitely NOT going to happen".

[cleetusvandamme]

Fair enough

[greybeard_]

'Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist' (George Carlin)

I would not call it forgiving attitude.
I have just given up on the politician all ready (almost). Once in a blue moon one comes up that has some integrity.

Mostly when looking at the interviews before erections (typo is intentional) I just listen and think "okay, so that is definitely NOT going to happen".

[Licker]

Hehe, quoting one of my favourite comedians is quite fitting

[syphon]

This thread started out as if I was reading some pathetic right wing crap straight out of a Murdoch rag! Thankfully some more balanced comments since. Personally I can hardly wait another 2 year's til we get rid of "one term Tony"

[SmilingGiraffe]

Australians were complacent for too long, due to the mineral bonanza out west.
There has been a creeping laziness and entightlement psyche in recent times.

The current state of affairs cannot be sustained over time, unless you advocate massive debt for
an economic policy. The budget was necessary - it was the wake up call Australia had to have.

Also, Australia is transitioning from a western European style democracy to an Asian Command economy.
With this kind of change, there are bound to be significant problems along the way, not simply economic.