So Rudd is the new PM

[simpletrust]

Wonder if he takes his faith along to the strip clubs.

Oh please, are you really going to hold that against him? Just because you don't think he should be Prime Minister? He says he phoned his wife the next day and told her about it. Doesn't that show his heart is in the right place?

Actually Anduril, perhaps you should be Prime Minister since you know exactly what is best for Australia and exactly how a PM should behave. You can keep the rest of the country in line.

 

[DavinMochrie]

Told Mum tonight: Sorry your guys lost, but my guys won.

She said that's okay, she's just glad that I'm not moving to Canada. (Which I was going to if the Libs got back in).

My Parents have been die hard liberals forever. John Howard Kissed my 21 year old sister when she was a baby, back in the eighties. I think he must have cursed her as she is a Young Liberal now.

I think I'm definately the black sheep for being Anti-Liberal. I'm not so much a supporter of other parties as a Disliker of Howard and the Libs.

I have been ever since they got in and started tightening up Austudy and Hecs and stuff back when I tried to go to uni in the nineties.

The Libs weren't just anti-youth, anti-education, anti-environment recently, they always have been.

They have introduced the GST and Workchoices.

All these self employed business people love Howard, but also I hear everyone moaning about having to do the quarterly BASS.

Noticed any major tax decrease after GST?????? Oh wait... Costello blames it on the State Governments. Well maybe Costello should have thought about that when they introduced a tax no one wanted!

 

[BradC]

Funny thing! I haven't voted for the winning party in the last eleven years. Yesterday was the first time in my twenty one years of voting I diddn't vote Labour. This time around I did the unthinkable and actually voted for the local politician who best could represnt me and he just happened to be the current MP and Liberal. Go figure!!

They have introduced the GST and Workchoices.

On both occasions the Australian people voted for these changes. It was never a secret what they wanted to do to Industrial Relations, because they told us time and again! Last time around voters gave them the chance!

Democrats gone

Cheers Brad

 

[SemperFidelis]

Well I didn't vote for Labour, but the majority apparently did, and that's democracy for you. It will certainly be interesting to see how Rudd goes bein prime minister, and I just pray he does a good job, but I suppose only time will tell. (I'd also be a fair bit happier if Julia Gillard wasn't involved in any way, but I'll settle for Peter Garret not pulling out any of his old Midnight Oil dance moves !).

I think one of the hardest things that Kevin Rudd is going to have to deal with is that I think labour got into power based on dissatisfaction with the Liberals and the publics desire for change rather then on the strenth of any of their policies, so I think the burden is going to on Kevin Rudd and the labour government to prove they are up for the job. I think in 3 years time if they havent essentially scrapped WorkChoices, kept interest rates down, managed the economy well and made what can be seen as real progress on envorinmental issues AND kept the unions under control, they will have real trouble in the next election.

Either way, congratulations to Mr Rudd and his government and I do wish them all the best despite being and remaining and faithful Liberal supporter.

Blessings to you all

Steve

 

[DavinMochrie]

On both occasions the Australian people voted for these changes. It was never a secret what they wanted to do to Industrial Relations, because they told us time and again! Last time around voters gave them the chance!

Sorry Brad,

That was not the case for both times.

These things were never an issue coming up to an election prior to coming out. On both occasions the CO-alition when to an election, won it...then revealed wheat they were doing after.

The GSt was in for a few years before anyone could even vote for it, and but then other issues side-tracked the nation.

Workchoices same again. They released well and truly after the election before last. We had no idea on it.

The public so hated that, that the libs lost power this election.

On both occasions the laws were enacted before we had any chance to exercise democatic say.

 

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I thought it quite interesting that although both Howard and Rudd profess to be Christians, there was not one mention of God in either speech.

But anyway, we're happy Rudd got in. And very happy that David Bradbury got into our division (yes, we are in Lindsay).

I think that's a good thing. Australia is a secular state (see s.116 of our Constiution) and I do not believe religion should play any part in political life. If politicians wish to practise a religion, and have that made public knowledge I don't have a problem with that, but I think it should be left out of political speeches and the like.

I don't agree with prayers before Parliament either - if individual members want to pray before entering the chamber (or silently while in there) I think that's fine, but I don't think it should be forced on people who don't share Christian beliefs.

 

[tigercub]

Democrats gone

...and why is this a good thing? The Democrats have done a lot for this country, and I think we need tem in the Senate to keep the balance of power. The Greens put up roadblocks, the Democrats negotiate. We need both in the Senate.

I just realised something...I live in the electorate of both the Prime Minister and the Premier of QLD. Lol...

 

[DavinMochrie]

I think one of the hardest things that Kevin Rudd is going to have to deal with is that I think labour got into power based on dissatisfaction with the Liberals and the publics desire for change rather then on the strenth of any of their policies, so I think the burden is going to on Kevin Rudd and the labour government to prove they are up for the job.

Don't worry, Howard managed it, when there was a protest vote against Paul Keating in 1996.

Maybe that's the way Aussies vote, we just get sick of the current bloke and vote a new guy in.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

They have introduced the GST and Workchoices.

All these self employed business people love Howard, but also I hear everyone moaning about having to do the quarterly BASS.

Noticed any major tax decrease after GST?????? Oh wait... Costello blames it on the State Governments. Well maybe Costello should have thought about that when they introduced a tax no one wanted!

I really don’t understand why people hate the GST, perhaps they don’t remember how utterly crap our tax system was before.

GST is far, far fairer than the arbitrary sales tax system ever was and far harder for people to avoid. The Australian economy (and plenty of others) has been moving towards a service-base for years now, and even Paul Keating could see that we needed a GST. It also allowed the government to drastically lower income and superannuation taxes.

Maybe you’re just a few years too young, but I can remember paying 50 cents in the $ on overtime I made when I was working casual jobs in uni. Crazy stuff. Mind you – we should at least give Labor credit for brining that down, prior to 1985 it was 60%! No wonder tax avoidance was a national sport in the 80s.

As for BAS, plenty of business people will tell you that BAS was the one thing that finally forced business people (especially sole traders) to start keeping proper accounts rather than gathering lots of receipts in a box by the till for a year, then dumping them on their accountant come tax time and hoping they still has a viable business.

 

[tigercub]

I really don’t understand why people hate the GST, perhaps they don’t remember how utterly crap our tax system was before.

GST is far, far fairer than the arbitrary sales tax system ever was and far harder for people to avoid. The Australian economy (and plenty of others) has been moving towards a service-base for years now, and even Paul Keating could see that we needed a GST. It also allowed the government to drastically lower income and superannuation taxes.

Maybe you’re just a few years too young, but I can remember paying 50 cents in the $ on overtime I made when I was working casual jobs in uni. Crazy stuff. Mind you – we should at least give Labor credit for brining that down, prior to 1985 it was 60%! No wonder tax avoidance was a national sport in the 80s.

As for BAS, plenty of business people will tell you that BAS was the one thing that finally forced business people (especially sole traders) to start keeping proper accounts rather than gathering lots of receipts in a box by the till for a year, then dumping them on their accountant come tax time and hoping they still has a viable business.

Yeah? I don't think it's fair to put GST on women's sanitary items because they are deemed; 'unneccessary'. that alone is enough to prove that the GST is unfair.

 

[sparassidae]

Funny thing! I haven't voted for the winning party in the last eleven years. Yesterday was the first time in my twenty one years of voting I diddn't vote Labour. This time around I did the unthinkable and actually voted for the local politician who best could represnt me and he just happened to be the current MP and Liberal. Go figure!!

Cheers Brad

So I'm guessing you don't live in Eden-Monaro

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Yeah? I don't think it's fair to put GST on women's sanitary items because they are deemed; 'unneccessary'. that alone is enough to prove that the GST is unfair.

I'd say that's probably the only thing I'd change about it. Other than that point you mention, I much rpefer having a flat 10% on almost everything than an ad-hoc sales tax on some things (that made no sense and would be fairly easily avoided in today's world trade/internet climate)

 

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I'd say that's probably the only thing I'd change about it. Other than that point you mention, I much rpefer having a flat 10% on almost everything than an ad-hoc sales tax on some things (that made no sense and would be fairly easily avoided in today's world trade/internet climate)

GST is also easily avoided by purchasing items from other countries. IIRC privately imported goods valued at < $1000 are not subject to GST.

 

[ebia]

GST is also easily avoided by purchasing items from other countries. IIRC privately imported goods valued at < $1000 are not subject to GST.

I think you'll find that they aren't exempt, it's just that customs can't be bothered to try and collect small amounts. Technically you're supposed to declare it and cough up the dough.

On the other hand, if a company of signficiant size sets up to supply from another country customs will step in and collect (eg Dell supply Australia from Singapore, but you still have to pay GST).

Similarly if lots of people start buying signficant amounts that way the governement and customs will change their policy to suit.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

GST is also easily avoided by purchasing items from other countries. IIRC privately imported goods valued at < $1000 are not subject to GST.

The GST of 10% is a far cry from when sales tax on some items was 45%.When it's thousands of dollars cheaper to sneak items through customers because the tax is so high - you can bet people will do it. There was even a famous case years back when a government minister was caught.

 

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I think you'll find that they aren't exempt, it's just that customs can't be bothered to try and collect small amounts. Technically you're supposed to declare it and cough up the dough.

On the other hand, if a company of signficiant size sets up to supply from another country customs will step in and collect (eg Dell supply Australia from Singapore, but you still have to pay GST).

Similarly if lots of people start buying signficant amounts that way the governement and customs will change their policy to suit.

No, low-value items are definitely exempt:

http://www.ato.gov.au/print.asp?doc=/Content/13193.htm

 

[Neenie1]

Yeah? I don't think it's fair to put GST on women's sanitary items because they are deemed; 'unneccessary'. that alone is enough to prove that the GST is unfair.

Well they are unnecessary to the MEN who write up the GST, never mind their wives,girlfriends,mothers,daughters etc.

 

[MOTHY]

I really don’t understand why people hate the GST, perhaps they don’t remember how utterly crap our tax system was before.

GST is far, far fairer than the arbitrary sales tax system ever was and far harder for people to avoid. The Australian economy (and plenty of others) has been moving towards a service-base for years now, and even Paul Keating could see that we needed a GST. It also allowed the government to drastically lower income and superannuation taxes.

Maybe you’re just a few years too young, but I can remember paying 50 cents in the $ on overtime I made when I was working casual jobs in uni. Crazy stuff. Mind you – we should at least give Labor credit for brining that down, prior to 1985 it was 60%! No wonder tax avoidance was a national sport in the 80s.

As for BAS, plenty of business people will tell you that BAS was the one thing that finally forced business people (especially sole traders) to start keeping proper accounts rather than gathering lots of receipts in a box by the till for a year, then dumping them on their accountant come tax time and hoping they still has a viable business.

If the GST replaced existing taxes as promised, perhaps it would be worth filling out BAS statements. However, here in the West, despite billions of dollars due to windfalls, courtesy of the mining boom and the phenomenal increase in housing costs is finding it's way into our state (WA) coffers. Result? Huge Stamp Duty on housing, (read Tax under another name) failing essential services (today record ambulances were 'ramped' outside Perth emergency departments. That's shocking! This state (Labor) government has not recognised that increased population means increased infastructure. Instead they are closing country hospitals, nursing posts, minimising beds, minimising everything that costs them money, (OUR MONEY) and are then attempting to gag people in the know who want to talk about it with some authority. Shame! WA State Labor Party, Shame! If they continue to hide things that should be open to public debate, attempting to gag FOI regarding a report on the conditions in Aboriginal communities in the Kimberly, then something really stinks and the truth will never see the light of day and therefore will never be resolved and the victims will never see any improvements.

 

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

If the GST replaced existing taxes as promised, perhaps it would be worth filling out BAS statements. However, here in the West, despite billions of dollars due to windfalls, courtesy of the mining boom and the phenomenal increase in housing costs is finding it's way into our state (WA) coffers. Result? Huge Stamp Duty on housing, (read Tax under another name) failing essential services (today record ambulances were 'ramped' outside Perth emergency departments. That's shocking! This state (Labor) government has not recognised that increased population means increased infastructure. Instead they are closing country hospitals, nursing posts, minimising beds, minimising everything that costs them money, (OUR MONEY) and are then attempting to gag people in the know who want to talk about it with some authority. Shame! WA State Labor Party, Shame! If they continue to hide things that should be open to public debate, attempting to gag FOI regarding a report on the conditions in Aboriginal communities in the Kimberly, then something really stinks and the truth will never see the light of day and therefore will never be resolved and the victims will never see any improvements.

Mothy,

I think you might find a lot of the problem with hospitals (and this is happening right across the country, not just in WA) is a severe lack of nursing and medical staff. This is largely the fault of the previous Federal Government ripping the guts out of Higher Education funding for the past 11½ years. Even if States had double the health budget, they would be hard pressed finding staff to fill all the positions. Hence the increase in immigrants working in the healthcare sector, but even they only fill so many positions.

It will be interesting to see if the new Labor Government does anything to reverse this trend.

 

[Anduril]

Oh please, are you really going to hold that against him? Just because you don't think he should be Prime Minister? He says he phoned his wife the next day and told her about it. Doesn't that show his heart is in the right place?

Who knows whether he phoned his wife or not. Wouldn't surprise me if he just said he did. Not that it's important, I've got plenty of other issues against him and I was just mucking around anyway. I believe Kevin Rudd is a Christian same as John Howard.

Actually Anduril, perhaps you should be Prime Minister since you know exactly what is best for Australia and exactly how a PM should behave. You can keep the rest of the country in line.

Ok. Would you vote for me?