I am fortunate to have my own home, in-between the mullock heaps of open cut mineing. The towns of the whole shire do not benefit from the mining industry, as they are just dormitories for the mine workers, with just a few who have their families living locally and contributing to the local economy.

I have survived on less than the age pension. I did have part-time, casual work up until 2 years ago, but I quit that, because of my state of mind & difficulty budgeting my Income & expenditure. When my car broke down, I have left it sitting in the shed, gathering dust, for past 15 months. I pay into a health fund, I took up when working full-time, try to grow a few vegetables, which has been impossible in our recent summer. Saved up for a new computer, and never regretted purchasing .

Nothing in this years budget to encourage me to seek work in that field, of selfless work caring for aged, disabled persons in the community. To receive just 40cents in the dollar out of the extra income, before purchasing petrol,[which works out at over $6.00AU per gallon, compared to USA residents paying up to $3.00US, we are a lot worse off in comparison.]

Prior to working in Age Care, I was out west working in a country Abattoir, processing sheep & goat the halal method for the export frozen meat trade. [now days the majority of their workers are sponsored, overseas workers]
Before that, 6 years of travel in the winter months 200klm per day to sort & pack citrus, where I did not gain anything, just wore my car and myself out. Summertime I got hassled, to get to work, find a job! Nothing in the government’s budget to endear me to any political party.

I wonder if the forum administrator will forward these posts to a parliamentarian? Go on mate do it live a little. I mean what can they do to you except throw you in jail. But perhaps you are a liberal if so then you wouldn't be game I should think. numbat

Numbat.

Should just send it to The Business Council of Australia. Parliaments a joke, could not even get a quorum this afternoon. Sheesh.

The budget handed down on May 9 is the most wonderful that I have seen since 1977, when Joe Bjelke-Petersen, Premier and Treasurer of Queensland, brought one down which abolished death duties.

This current budget will hopefully set the policy frameworks to combat the greatest medium-term threat facing Australia - that sometime in the next few years our foreign debt will be called in.

Having done the hard yards in eliminating government debt, the Howard government has now set out to eliminate private debt, which can be almost as devastating. By making it pay to save, something that has not been possible for at least fifty years, the Howard government may be able to create several hundred billion of additional savings over the next few years that will re-assure our foreign creditors and dissuade them form foreclosing on us.

I have always been amazed why our left-wing financial advisers, whose policy is to borrow and spend with no thought for tomorrow have so little regard for President Bush, considering as how he pursues the same policy.

The Keating government's additude to superannuation was typical Labor; force someone to do something that it did not pay them to do. The result was that people only put in to super the mimimum that was required. With the Howard government reducing the super savings tax rate to 15% by eliminating the tax on withdrawals, there is no limit the the savings people can make, and the age group from 50-60, instead of frittering their surplus income on imports, can save it in super.

The only question about the budget is whether it has been in time, and whether we can reduce our foreign debt enough to satisfy our creditors when the crisis hits. Only a financial genius can know when the current situation, where the United States in borrowing $US 3 billion a day, will be considered unsustainable.

The Howard government deserves to be re-elected solely on its actions concerning superannuation, without even considering the reforms it has made in industrial relations.

Budget Envy?

Plurdsus, it's all very nice and well for those like you (I'm assuming) that can afford to put away a little extra for retirement, but what about those on invalid pensions, some of whom are being forced to look for work by the uncaring and inhuman Howard led Government? What about those who will lose their jobs thanks to inhuman IR (so called) reform? What about those who because of age, mental illness or any other reason are not part of the workforce and have little to look forward to in retirement? I do agree with you on one point though and that's the need to reduce personal debt, but how do people on Government support manage that little trick when they sometimes have to rack up a credit card debt simply to put food on the table. The little people are hurting Plerdsus and if you're fortunate enough not to be one of them, then good luck to you, but eventually I believe you'll see the folly of your support for the Howard Government, especially when your place at the top of the heap begings to crumble. Never forget the little man Plerdsus. They are many and it's their hand that hold you up in the world. Lose their support and you'll come crashing down too.