Schooners now $12.00! Australia, the lucky country!

[Nemises]

Also $100 now (after Medicare rebate) to see a Dr !

 

 

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

I mentioned on a different thread that is not a good time to be a worker employee in Australia. Inflation high, but we are told, even it seems by the Labour party, that wage rises must be limited, or it will lead to further inflation.

Those on benefits get full CPI rises and businesses increase costs to maintain profits. Fair enough but the workers are supposed to cop it.

So for me personally I say raise interest rates to curb inflation but let wages increase at a fair rate. As a government employee Labour has the power to do so but it seems they are not as beneficial to workers as had been hoped. 

[Celsius]

I didn't know you have to pay to see a doctor in Australia.

 

Was this always the case? 

 

I guess Canada does come ahead in something.

[KhunHeineken]

NSW has "a war on pokies" which has become an election issue. 

 

There's probably going to be a significant reduction in pokie revenue for pubs and clubs, and when that happens, you can expect $15 schooners. 

[KhunHeineken]

On 1/28/2023 at 12:37 AM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

So for me personally I say raise interest rates to curb inflation

Why make a minority of Australians, mainly those with mortgages, carry the burden of Australia's high inflation?  Particularly, as mortgagees typically have less money to spend, so are not the ones fueling inflation.  

 

The inflation burden should be carried by the broader population, not a minority.  

[Fat is a type of crazy]

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Why make a minority of Australians, mainly those with mortgages, carry the burden of Australia's high inflation?  Particularly, as mortgagees typically have less money to spend, so are not the ones fueling inflation.  

 

The inflation burden should be carried by the broader population, not a minority.  

It is unfair whoever you target. What is an alternative solution?

One way of looking at it is the big companies such as oil companies make windfall profits and other companies put their prices up freely, more than what the increase in oil price justifies based on demand, and make big profits e.g. Qantas. This causes inflation. The solution? Make things so tough for consumers that they can't afford the high prices and prices are forced to come down. So the individual consumer bears the brunt.

Ideally the businesses could be forced to reduce prices in the first place but that reeks of market control or socialism. In theory it would be fair but in reality every business has different situations so it is not practical.

How to achieve that other than interest rate hikes? Keep in mind interest rates had been unusually low for years and are still not high on a historical basis. 

Meanwhile the big corporations and governments keep a limit on wages to limit inflation too. Individual consumers loses again.

I concur raising interest rates is not a subtle weapon targeting those who should necessarily be targeted but I am happy not to be targeted for once and to actually benefit from higher savings rates. 

 

 

[KhunHeineken]

On 3/12/2023 at 12:17 AM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

It is unfair whoever you target. What is an alternative solution?

Some were calling for a temporary rise in the GST.  This would tax the actual people causing the inflation, the spenders.  Basic foods are already exempt, they could extend this to things like white goods, in case your fridge blows up.  This would net the government billions, which can then be used on hospitals, schools, roads etc. 

 

Another one, and my preferred one, was a temporary rise in super contributions, which lets the people keep their money.  Say it went from 9% or 12% to 20%, this will slow down spending.

 

Raising interest rates which target mortgage holders, who typically have less disposable income to spend, therefore, are not the ones causing inflation, on this occasion, will go beyond "unfair" and will cause social damage in the form of defaults, homelessness, divorce and suicide.  

 

Other options are available, but the government is not brave enough to try them. 

 

On 3/12/2023 at 12:17 AM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

One way of looking at it is the big companies such as oil companies make windfall profits and other companies put their prices up freely, more than what the increase in oil price justifies based on demand, and make big profits e.g. Qantas. This causes inflation. The solution? Make things so tough for consumers that they can't afford the high prices and prices are forced to come down. So the individual consumer bears the brunt.

The problem is, the wealthy, those typically without mortgages, pay the inflated price anyway, so that leave the middle class paying through the nose, all the time while mortgage holders are the ones being punished.  

 

I am not saying raising interest rates doesn't work.  I am suggesting there are better ways of lowering inflation in which the pain is evenly spread, and not carried by a minority who aren't even causing the problem. 

 

On 3/12/2023 at 12:17 AM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Keep in mind interest rates had been unusually low for years and are still not high on a historical basis. 

Meanwhile the big corporations and governments keep a limit on wages to limit inflation too. Individual consumers loses again.

I concur raising interest rates is not a subtle weapon targeting those who should necessarily be targeted but I am happy not to be targeted for once and to actually benefit from higher savings rates. 

Interest rates couldn't stay low forever.  They had to eventually rise and normalize again. 

 

The unemployment rate dropped recently, probably because mortgagees now have to get a second job, so this puts pressure on the RBA to raise rates again next month.  It's a catch 22 for mortgagees.  Work another job to keep your house, but you are causing another rate rise to push you closer to losing your house. 

 

The rot started decades ago when the housing market because an investment vehicle through tax perks, and the low supply of new housing which pushed house prices, and rents, through the roof.  It turned what should have been homes for Aussie families into money making investments for the wealthy.

 

Australia's housing market ponzi scheme may very well unravel in the next 12 to 18 months. 

[AlexRRR]

On 1/28/2023 at 7:37 AM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I mentioned on a different thread that is not a good time to be a worker employee in Australia. Inflation high, but we are told, even it seems by the Labour party, that wage rises must be limited, or it will lead to further inflation.

Those on benefits get full CPI rises and businesses increase costs to maintain profits. Fair enough but the workers are supposed to cop it.

So for me personally I say raise interest rates to curb inflation but let wages increase at a fair rate. As a government employee Labour has the power to do so but it seems they are not as beneficial to workers as had been hoped. 

Labour Party voters are delusional, they haven't been for the rank and file workers since the Bob Hawk and Keating era, they moved to the right and are still there.

 

They Labour killed off wage indexation by the way and introduced industry by industry negotiated wage rises when eventually there was nothing left to negotiate here we are today.

 

The middle classes drive the economy but there buying power is at the lowest point of the current cycle, some good documentaries on this out and about, we are at 1938 so you got a good idea where we could be heading.

 

 

[KhunHeineken]

On 5/3/2023 at 6:52 AM, AlexRRR said:

Labour Party voters are delusional, they haven't been for the rank and file workers since the Bob Hawk and Keating era, they moved to the right and are still there.

 

They Labour killed off wage indexation by the way and introduced industry by industry negotiated wage rises when eventually there was nothing left to negotiate here we are today.

 

The middle classes drive the economy but there buying power is at the lowest point of the current cycle, some good documentaries on this out and about, we are at 1938 so you got a good idea where we could be heading.

 

 

Yeah, but it's all about "The Voice."  Focus on "The Voice."  Don't be distracted by the real issues. 

[AlexRRR]

I paid about $AU90 for 2 beers an orange juice and bottle of "Italian" water in front of the Dubai Fountain a week ago, think that $12 beer was cheap...

[lexxy]

I lived in SG and flew to ac or pattaya for my weekends instead of sitting there like a schmo at clark quay for 17 sg a beer.

In sydney i hit Mr Bs and they still do $14 jugs of great northern midweek and $15 carlton dry jugs on weekends.

I could be at places which 12 buck schooeys but why?

 

 

[Celsius]

I think it is a great deal.... 12AUD = 12 Baht.... if not now, soon

[Adumbration]

I remember my violent alcoholic father telling everyone he would quite drinking when a beer cost 1 dollar.

 

After the cost of a schooner reached that price...he started drinking middies.

[still kicking]

On 1/28/2023 at 8:41 AM, Celsius said:

I didn't know you have to pay to see a doctor in Australia.

 

Was this always the case? 

 

I guess Canada does come ahead in something.

You don't pay to visit a doctor if you are a pensioner. 

[KhunHeineken]

The price of having a beer in a pub or club is now at the point where is it changing Australian culture.  

 

Sad days indeed.   

[KhunHeineken]

On 11/27/2023 at 12:15 PM, still kicking said:

You don't pay to visit a doctor if you are a pensioner. 

It's gone up a lot for everyone else though. 

 

https://www.9news.com.au/national/gp-appointment-cost-doctors-appointments-rise-for-third-time-in-2023/5862a7ee-7a78-43e8-a01f-3710a201a10c

[still kicking]

So what? I buy 4 litres of wine for 9 bucks. 

Convert $74,114 per year to hourly salary | Talent.com

[KhunHeineken]

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

So what? I buy 4 litres of wine for 9 bucks

Living the dream. 

[still kicking]

On 2/3/2024 at 1:10 AM, KhunHeineken said:

Living the dream. 

What dream would that be? I buy 5 litres for 12 bucks get real 

[4MyEgo]

On 2/3/2024 at 12:39 AM, still kicking said:

So what? I buy 4 litres of wine for 9 bucks. 

Convert $74,114 per year to hourly salary | Talent.com

 

I wonder how high the sugar content is in your wine, great for diabetes. 

 

The $37.51 per hour for a 38 hour week is a little misleading in my opinion, as it doesn't take into consideration the Medicare Levy of 2% and it could be using an old taxation table ?

 

From my calculations using the ATO 2023 calculator for a single bloke with no claims, it works out to be $29.37 per hour for a 38 hour week.

 

That works out to be $1,116 a week, now take out at least $500 a week for rent, then electricity, groceries, car running costs etc etc and I reckon you'd be just making drinking cheap wine alright.

 

Each to their own.

 

 

 

 

[KhunHeineken]

On 2/3/2024 at 5:58 PM, still kicking said:

What dream would that be? I buy 5 litres for 12 bucks get real 

We all know Thailand rips foreigners off on wine, and cheese as well.

 

That said, should you be a beer drinker, that's a different story.

 

If you are living in Australia, why such an interest in this forum?   

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

We all know Thailand rips foreigners off on wine, and cheese as well.

 

That said, should you be a beer drinker, that's a different story.

 

If you are living in Australia, why such an interest in this forum?   

 

   Those are the prices that Thais have to pay as well , so its not ripping off foreigners , its  a tax on the wealthy

[KhunHeineken]

5 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Those are the prices that Thais have to pay as well , so its not ripping off foreigners , its  a tax on the wealthy

It's well known that, culturally, Thai's do not consume a lot of wine, nor eat cheese. 

 

Yes, Thai's pay the same price, I never suggested it's a dual pricing system, like entering some national parks here, but basically the Thai government is ripping off foreigners for some items they know are in demand by foreigners, all in the name of protecting Thailand's wine making industry and dairy industry. 

[still kicking]

11 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

We all know Thailand rips foreigners off on wine, and cheese as well.

 

That said, should you be a beer drinker, that's a different story.

 

If you are living in Australia, why such an interest in this forum?   

That is because I lived in LOS and still have family in LOS why don't you ask the same question to all other posters who live outside Thailand?

[KhunHeineken]

5 minutes ago, still kicking said:

That is because I lived in LOS and still have family in LOS why don't you ask the same question to all other posters who live outside Thailand?

I would expect most posters reside in Thailand, but it's no problem if you don't. 

 

I just find it strange you post on here about the cost of living in Australia when everyone knows living in Thailand is soooooooo much more affordable.

 

Sure, wine and cheese, and a bulk billed visit to a doctor.  Do you have anything else?   

 

Should we compare property prices and rents?   

[still kicking]

14 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I would expect most posters reside in Thailand, but it's no problem if you don't. 

 

I just find it strange you post on here about the cost of living in Australia when everyone knows living in Thailand is soooooooo much more affordable.

 

Sure, wine and cheese, and a bulk billed visit to a doctor.  Do you have anything else?   

 

Should we compare property prices and rents?   

Lets compare wages.

[KhunHeineken]

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Lets compare wages.

Most on this form are retired. 

[still kicking]

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Most on this form are retired. 

What does have to do with Price of eggs. You are comparing Australian prices with Thai prices and not everybody drinks. My Thai wife is a nurse she makes 45 $ per hour I guess that is over 1000 baht per hour. I do get about 2500 $ per months on my pension 

[KhunHeineken]

23 minutes ago, still kicking said:

What does have to do with Price of eggs.

Well, for one, they are not earning a wage to compare. 

[still kicking]

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Well, for one, they are not earning a wage to compare. 

Thats why you can't compare