KhunHeineken

It's something that is very undemocratic in a democracy.

It's got to the point that there are now millions of welfare recipients in Australia. Any political party looking to take a dollar off a welfare recipient would never be voted in, that's how many are on the Centerlink gravy train. https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/growing-welfare-dependency-requires-honest-debate-and-urgent-action "Approximately 2.1 million Australians (aged 15+) are currently receiving welfare through either the NDIS, Disability Support Pension (DSP), Jobseeker, or Youth Allowance." "Many Australians receive welfare for valid reasons, however there is a rapidly growing cohort who could work, but do not. This is placing an enormous burden on our nation’s stretched finances and ballooning debt levels,” said Mr Wild."

Australia desperately needs tax reform, housing reform, and electricity reform, just to name a few, but these would be at the top. In relation to tax reform, implementing more of the Henry Review would be a good start. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Tax_Review "Rudd endorsed and implemented only 3 of the 138 recommendations." In relation to housing reform, negative gearing has to be rolled back, back politicians from both major parties and many smaller parties have investment properties. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/politicians-and-their-property-portfolios-how-many-do-they-own/udjlx1qle In relation to electricity, it should never had been privatized. In 30 years, Australia went from having one of the cheapest electricity prices in the world, to having the most expensive electricity prices in the world. https://www.leadingedgeenergy.com.au/blog/highest-electricity-prices-world/ "Australian households and businesses are paying the highest electricity prices in the world, a drastic reversal from the 1990s when energy bills in the country were the cheapest in the world." It's that bad that Australia's electricity prices are causing what's left of Australia's manufacturing industry to go offshore. Neither the ALP or LNP have done anything of substance to change the above issues that have a big impact on every Australian citizen, thus, it didn't really matter who won the election, Australia will still continue down the same path to record debt, so much so, S&P issued a warning that Australia could lose its AAA rating, and if / when that happens, it's 15 baht to $1AUD.

I posted this link in another thread, but it's also on topic in this thread. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/24/australian-budget-2025-where-does-the-money-come-from-and-where-does-it-go 37% of Australian's budget goes to "Social Security and Welfare." It's unsustainable.

It just keeps spinning faster and faster. http://australiandebtclock.com.au

Because 3 years of rubbish feels like 4 years.

Well, here's the stats. Just one of many with a similar pie chart or graph on the internet. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/24/australian-budget-2025-where-does-the-money-come-from-and-where-does-it-go Scroll down to "Where the money goes." 37% of the budget goes to "Social Security and Welfare." Centerlink is the Australian economy's biggest bill. The next biggest bill is "Other" at 21%. Welfare is 16% bigger than the next biggest bill, which, coincidentally, is the total cost of "Health" in Australia, which really puts into context the size of Australia's Centerlink bill. Now, scroll back up, you will see "Where the money comes from." The highest is 41% which comes from "Individuals Income Tax." So, as you can see, people work to support the people who don't work, which is fine if the "Social Security and Welfare" bill wasn't so big, but it is. It's been a drag on the Australian economy for decades now, with no end in sight. So, there is a lot of truth to the point the member is making.

Didn't matter who won the election, Australia was still heading down the same path. Major reform is needed in many sectors, but none of our politicians have the political will to tackle the difficult jobs, thus, nothing changes.

I have just given my reasons in a previous post. In my opinion, later in the year, those with Skype credit remaining will receive an email giving them a deadline to use it. Out of luck, say you put a "bunch of money" into your Skype account just before the shut down announcement, in my opinion, like Microsoft 365 subscribers, and Skype subscribers, credit holders will eventually be given a deadline as well, otherwise, people could be sitting on a "bunch of money" in their Skype accounts that lasts for years, the whole time Microsoft runs it at a further loss. I just can't see that being allowed to happen.

Did you see the words "I would say?" That means it's my opinion. I would say, yes, there's those words again, that by ending the free 60 minutes of Skype included in a Microsoft 365 package, it shows their intention of shutting down the Skype servers in March 2026. I posted weeks ago that it was my intention to leave $0.20AUD credit, so Skype would be around forever. Do you really think Microsoft will allow this? I also posted I expect Microsoft to send out emails later this year with a deadline to use their Skype credit. I would say, yes, those words yet again, that the deadline for Skype credit will be March 26, to coincide with the end of the 60 Skype minutes with a Microsoft 365 subscription. This basically gives Microsoft 365 users 1 year, Skype subscribers 1 year, and Skype credit holders 1 year to continue to use Skype services, then Skype is shut down, as in, the Skype servers. Why would they continue to run them at a loss? By March 26 the last of remaining subscriptions will be expiring and will not be renewed also. Once again, this is just my opinion, as I just can't see them allowing Skype uses to hold on to Skype credit for another 20 years out of protest, which is possible, because in that case, there isn't actually a "shut down" of Skype, is there? I have not heard about using Skype credit once every 6 months, do you have a link for this. If what you say is correct, as an example, even the small $0.20AUD I proposed to leave in Skype, forever, out of protest, if I was to make one call every 6 months at $0.01AUD a minute, and hang up straight away, then that credit will last for 10 years, at $0.02 per year, and that's only $0.20AUD. What about people with $50AUD credit that are infrequent users, calling their bank or government departments, rarely. That $50AUD will last for years, even with one call every 6 months and they hang up straight away just to keep their credit active. Do you really think Microsoft are going to allow a declining number of people to continue using Skype, whilst not making any income from Skype, for years to come, running servers at a loss the whole time? I don't think so.

One third of the country works to support the other two thirds. No wonder such a small population is 1 trillion dollars in debt, and it's rising, rapidly. S&P issued a warning last week. If Australia loses its AAA credit rating, it will be 15 baht to $1AUD.

Teams is more for businesses, not so much for the consumer. It's not as user friendly as Skype. I will not be using Teams.

MyTello does not offer an unlimited calls / minutes subscription. Fine for the casual user, not so great for the frequent user.

Bill Shorten went to an election looking for a mandate to roll negative gearing back. People voted against it. Too many on the property gravy train now.

I agree. Olmate's information can not be relied upon and should be taken with a grain of salt.

I've provided many links to relevant government policy, or their intention to pass new legislation. You, and others, have come up with things like "That's only for guys like Paul Hogan" and "Forget about Article 19." Too funny.

Do you think the policies and political parties have just gone away?

Nothing to do with the sky falling down. I have informed all Aussie expats of the proposed changes to tax residency. There are no exemptions in them, and no change to the non resident tax brackets, thus, relevant to pensioners. Then, you started trolling, and continue to do so.

Ok. Thanks. I was looking at their website on a PC. I'll check it out.

Where does it say this?

I didn't see a similar deal for Australia. Am I missing something?

Definitely 8 years, you can't guarantee 12 years. The days of Labor being for the worker or the battler are over. They have moved closer to the center of politics in recent times. I don't have confidence in either political party to benefit Australia, and Australians. What's there to celebrate in an Albo / Labor victory? How's it going to improve your life in Thailand, and the lives of your family back in Australia? The same problems will still be there tomorrow morning. The same problems they have had 4 years to fix but didn't.

Why do you think I'm crying over the result? As I said, Albo or Dutton, Labor or Liberal, Australia loses. Both parties will just keep Australia on the same course it's been on for decades, continuing to get into more and more debt.

Rubbish. Show me where I have done that. You looked at the dollar figure, and not the words. I looked at the words, as did many Labor MP's who I linked. In any case, it doesn't matter for the next 4 years, but the Libs have shown their intention to mess with pensioners who are living overseas, one way, or another.