The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

msolga, I'm not sure if you caught my conversation with goodfielder about Mike Malloy. If you have the chance, listen to him. He's on Air America and his feelings for Bush parallel mine.

(Actually, I think I hate Bush a little more)

Here's some background

Mike Malloy, a man of my own heart, Gus! He must be a Communist! (I must figure out a way of hearing some broadcasts.)

Where do I send the money for the tee shirt?

Oz Treasures, Peter Costello, strides purposefully toward delivering his 1oth budget tonight. (The nation waits, on tenter hooks.) Mr Costello, as you can see!) is confident about becoming Liberal leader very soon indeed, having no doubt that John Howard will do the right thing ... by stepping down to give him his turn at the leadership, as promised. (Mr Costello has threatened this will be his last budget for the Libs if this doesn't happen.)

Mr Costello thought it was best not to read the newspapers this morning:

Setback for Costello on eve of budget
By Michelle Grattan
Political editor
Canberra
May 10, 2005



Voters prefer Kim Beazley over Peter Costello as a prospective prime minister - but most people expect John Howard to serve the full term.

An AgePoll taken at the weekend is discouraging for Mr Costello's push for the leadership, with only 20 per cent of people saying they would be more likely to vote Coalition if he were at the helm, and 37 per cent indicating they would be less likely.... <cont.>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Setback-for-Costello-on-eve-of-budget/2005/05/09/1115584907782.html

<Yawn>

I am SO sick of this story! I wish they'd resolve it so the cartoonists can move on!

More, even!:

We have a crappy government but by crikey we have some wonderful cartoonists!

I'll buy that, goodfielder! A toast to our wonderful, irreverent cartoonists! Bless their cynical, world weary little souls! How could we stand going through all this crappy stuff without them?

THIS is going to be the focus? Aw, come on!!!!

Welfare to work is budget focus
By Josh Gordon, Misha Schubert
Jason Koutsoukis
May 10, 2005/the AGE

Peter Costello's 10th budget will push tens of thousands of welfare recipients into paid work under the theme of "responsible measures today, opportunities for tomorrow".

"At the moment we have hundreds of thousands of Australians of working age who have no obligation to look for work even though they are capable of it and that's going to be the focus," Mr Costello said yesterday.... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Welfare-to-work-is-budget-focus/2005/05/09/1115584907508.html?oneclick=true

Yeah, let's sort out these people who are having a great life without work, on the princely sum of around $400 (Oz, not US dollars) a fortnight! Obviously these folk are the cause of the "skills shortage" ... Or something ...! Anyway, they're letting the country down & have to be told what's what!

OMG, I can't believe this! Who actually CHOOSES to live like that? I know I didn't, when I HAD too. (Not a minute longer than I could help, I assure you.)

What the hell IS this from the Libs?

Where's Charles Dickens when you need him?

.

I predict a revival of interest, goodfielder ... something we can relate to. :wink:

Just back from a meeting. Missed the budget. Did they mandate the Poor House laws again?

Everyone's a winner! :

Tax cuts for all in budget bonanza
By Phillip Hudson, Political correspondent
May 10, 2005 - 7:37PM

Personal tax cuts worth $21.7 billion, abolishing the superannuation surcharge for high income earners and a $3.6 billion push to shift people from welfare to work are the key announcements in tonight's federal budget.

Handing down a record 10th consecutive budget, Treasurer Peter Costello promised tax cuts starting on July 1 ranging from $1.54 for the lowest income earners to $41.58 for those at the top of the tax scale.... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Budget-2005/Tax-cuts-for-all-in-budget-bonanza/2005/05/10/1115584957796.html?oneclick=true

not!

... Well, after all that ...... the filthy rich got wopping great tax breaks, the low income people got titchy little ones & the folk in the middle didn't appear to get much at all. The folk on disability pensions have been given fresh "incentives" to do their duty to the country & find work (well, look for it, anyway, on Centrelink payments this time), single mothers whose children have returned to school have also received "incentives' to return to work .... & hey, there's more, but you get the gist?....