Australian Election Announced - 1 Day Later Craig Thompson Is Arrested!

[David48]

Gillard flags tax rises in federal budget

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is preparing the political ground for higher taxes and charges, saying the government has "urgent and grave decisions" to make in the upcoming federal budget to plug revenue holes.

Here

[David48]

PM confirms Medicare levy rise to fund NDIS

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed there will be a rise in the Medicare levy by 0.5 percent to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Here

[David48]

Family payment boost abandoned

A year after the Australian Treasurer was 'trying to extend the benefit of the Mining Boom to your average Australian' ... the promised plan has been scrapped to save the Budget an estimated $2 Billion.

The family payment boost, which was guaranteed by the Government has now been abandoned. Here

This decision could now have a 'Political Cost' as last year the Labor Ministers talked up the benefits of this Family Payment.

The Federal Budget which will be revealed in a weeks time is now expected to go from the promised surplus (a year ago) to now, a 17 Billion Dollar deficit.

Since the Federal Election was announced the news has not been good for the government. I do try and inform on stories that involve all sides of the political spectrum ... but it's the current governments woes which dominate the headlines.

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[BookMan]

The Labor government has zero chance of winning the next election. Who would have thought that Tony Abbott could be an effective opposition leader for so long? Sure , surviving on a diet of sound bites, negative rhetoric, and avoiding any meaningful debate about anything has helped...but still....The problem for most Australians is that many still dont know who 'the Real' Julia is.

All these family tax benefits and allowances are getting out of hand. We have seen 15 years of governments continually vote buying with tax concessions, baby bonuses, family concessions, new home allowances etcetera.

Look at Abbott's latest foray. Paid maternity leave for 26 weeks, Pro rata of $160k a yer , if that is what you were earning. That's money coming from the government (albeit through a tax on the 3200 largest companies).

[simple1]

The Labor government has zero chance of winning the next election. Who would have thought that Tony Abbott could be an effective opposition leader for so long? Sure , surviving on a diet of sound bites, negative rhetoric, and avoiding any meaningful debate about anything has helped...but still....The problem for most Australians is that many still dont know who 'the Real' Julia is.

All these family tax benefits and allowances are getting out of hand. We have seen 15 years of governments continually vote buying with tax concessions, baby bonuses, family concessions, new home allowances etcetera.

Look at Abbott's latest foray. Paid maternity leave for 26 weeks, Pro rata of $160k a yer , if that is what you were earning. That's money coming from the government (albeit through a tax on the 3200 largest companies).

On the other side of the coin, Gillard's government is effectively reducing full rate of payment of the Aged Pension for many by adding additional hurdles as of 01/2014 for new applicants. I believe Abbott is of the same mindset

[David48]

Paid parental leave will push up costs and create false divisions

Mr Abbott has this week faced pressure from some of his own MPs to dump his “signature” scheme, which would give new mothers their regular wage for six months, up to $75,000.

The Coalition says it will introduce a 1.5 per cent levy on more than 3000 top-earning companies to pay for the policy.

More here, here and some really funny stuff here (Talking Pictures ... do click the last link!)

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[GrantSmith]

Slow day in the office...

[David48]

Thomson quits Labor to run as independent

Suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson has decided to quit the party and recontest his New South Wales electorate as an independent. He was suspended from Labor following allegations he misused Health Services Union funds on hospitality and prostitutes, during his time as the HSU's national secretary between 2002 and 2007.

Mr Thomson is currently facing 154 counts of fraud, but denies any wrongdoing and is fighting the allegations in court.

Despite the legal proceedings, Mr Thomson says he has decided to stand in the September election for his seat of Dobell.

"I can't, in all good conscience, contest this election as a Labor Party candidate," he told AM.

"I'll be standing as an independent... that took a great deal of thought and consideration.

"I've been a member of the Labor Party for over 25 years, my entire adult life but you know, the Labor Party that I joined isn't the Labor Party today.

From here

[David48]

Relevance to Thailand? ... some members here (Thailand) are required to vote (as an absentee or when they return to Australia), hence good to keep up with the local affairs relating to the Australian Election Issues.

EDITED to add ... more information here Ways_to_vote_overseas

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[BookMan]

Thomson quits Labor to run as independent

Suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson has decided to quit the party and recontest his New South Wales electorate as an independent. He was suspended from Labor following allegations he misused Health Services Union funds on hospitality and prostitutes, during his time as the HSU's national secretary between 2002 and 2007.

Mr Thomson is currently facing 154 counts of fraud, but denies any wrongdoing and is fighting the allegations in court.

Despite the legal proceedings, Mr Thomson says he has decided to stand in the September election for his seat of Dobell.

"I can't, in all good conscience, contest this election as a Labor Party candidate," he told AM.

"I'll be standing as an independent... that took a great deal of thought and consideration.

"I've been a member of the Labor Party for over 25 years, my entire adult life but you know, the Labor Party that I joined isn't the Labor Party today.

From here

Almost certainly forced out, didn't walk voluntarily. Labor would have given him the option of going with some dignity to save himself and the party further embarrasment.

[BookMan]

Thomson quits Labor to run as independent

Suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson has decided to quit the party and recontest his New South Wales electorate as an independent. He was suspended from Labor following allegations he misused Health Services Union funds on hospitality and prostitutes, during his time as the HSU's national secretary between 2002 and 2007.

Mr Thomson is currently facing 154 counts of fraud, but denies any wrongdoing and is fighting the allegations in court.

Despite the legal proceedings, Mr Thomson says he has decided to stand in the September election for his seat of Dobell.

"I can't, in all good conscience, contest this election as a Labor Party candidate," he told AM.

"I'll be standing as an independent... that took a great deal of thought and consideration.

"I've been a member of the Labor Party for over 25 years, my entire adult life but you know, the Labor Party that I joined isn't the Labor Party today.

From here

Almost certainly forced out, didn't walk voluntarily. Labor would have given him the option of going with some dignity to save himself and the party further embarrasment.

I was wring about my above comment. Labor tried to get him to contest pre selection, be defeated, then pay him redundancy.

If, as it is, he stands as an independent, he will take enough of teh Labor vote to make it impossible for them to win the seat they hold by a narrow margin

[BookMan]

More charges against Thomson.

He is, of course, according to himself, totally innocent of all charges!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/craig-thomson-now-faces-173-fraud-related-charges-over-health-services-union-credit-cards/story-fnii5smt-1226648158213

[GrantSmith]

Will be interesting to see if the establishments named will be cooperative...

Haven't read anything to suggest that they will be...

[David48]

Finally some 'true colours' ... pun intended!

'The redhead voters can trust'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0eR58PZZqI

Pauline Hanson has rejoined her old party, One Nation,

and will run for a NSW Senate seat in the upcoming federal election.

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[David48]

Speaking of Redheads ...

With polls suggesting the Federal election will be a decisive ALP defeat, questions about Julia Gillard's leadership

are surfacing again and Labor researcher Rod Cameron believes the result could be an historic defeat.

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: The toxic infighting over the Labor leadership was supposed to have been resolved

once and for all earlier this year. But as the countdown to the September election continues, the Prime Minister is

again under mounting pressure from within her own party. One of the PM's key backers, Victorian powerbroker

Bill Shorten, is being urged privately to ask Julia Gillard to quit to avoid electoral decimation. 7.30 understands

Mr Shorten is weighing up the options while other factional leaders are urging Julia Gillard to fight on. Adding to
the pressure, tonight a veteran Labor insider predicts an epic wipeout for the party and holds the Prime Minister

squarely to blame.

Political editor Chris Uhlmann reports.

Just how dire is the feeling within the Labor Party?

Last week, two Labor MP's have packed their Office in anticipation of Electoral defeat ... the election's not to be held until September 14 ... 3 months from now.

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[David48]

Interesting update overnight ...

The Labor Government has a new Leader, thus we have a new PM.

More here in the World News Forum ...

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