The good and bad news in the 2012 Budget depends on your life situation. There are winners and there are losers.
WAYNE (Robin Hood) Swan has used his 2012 budget as a weapon to take from the rich (wealthy miners) and give to poor (needy battlers).
The Mining War see’s billionaires like Andrew Forrest, Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer, coughing up lots of cash in mining taxes, while the federal treasurer announced a $3.6 billion "spreading the benefits of the boom" package to share the proceeds of the mining tax with low and middle-income earning families and small businesses. Which must be good for all Australians, well… most Australians, ah… maybe some Australians, could be just a few Australians , of course not including the 3 mentioned above, maybe no Australians. Is everyone else happy?

You’ve got the casting all wrong.

According to the Robin Hood narrative, the bad king John usurped the throne from Richard. That would have to make Julia, John, since she usurped the throne from Kevin.

And,the Sheriff of Nottingham was John’s enforcer, devising and collecting all sorts of taxes from the hardly done by populous. That would have to make Wayne Swan the sheriff.

And Robin Hood is bit of an athletic type,and always gets around in tights (the medieval equivalent of budgie smugglers). That could only make him Tony Abbot.

As for the budget, its only commendably initiative is the cut in foreign aid.

Hay SPQR, have you ever thought of going into the theater? You have a aptitude there.

But SPQR, did you miss the bit about getting rid of a few public bludgers, opps sorry, servants?

They probably had their secret police find those few who actually voted conservative. A perfect solution for them. They get rid of a few, to them, undesirables & claim fiscal caution as the reason.

I wonder if anyone actually believes their bottom line, even them?

Dear Paul1405,

I think it's a very fair budget.
The following link explains why:

http://newmatilda.com/2012/05/08/ben-eltham-budget-2012

A good Budget.
Be warned! Abbott will be very much worse.
In fact he gets his financial understanding from far different sources than Peter Costello did.
70 Billion Dollar black hole, their own words not mine.
Be aware of who you run to.
I admit Gillard is worthy of running away from But!

Not credible, Hasbeen.

>>They probably had their secret police find those few who actually voted conservative. A perfect solution for them. They get rid of a few, to them, undesirables & claim fiscal caution as the reason.<<

That would only reduce their number by four, five... six at the most.

No savings there.

It is of no consequence. They will not stick to the budget anyway.

Last year they budgetted for a deficit and now by June it will be nearly twice as much at they budgetted for.

They make a big deal out of nothing, a 12 year old kid could write it.

Bit like a bus timetable, just a work of fiction. Bet the surplus never gets here.

Considering that his last budget was for a $12bn deficit that came in at well over $40bn deficit, Wayne Swan's surplus is a joke. Combine this with dodgy accounting such as paying the carbon tax compensation in June to avoid counting it, and you have a federal laughing stock.

The reason Whine Swan won't get any benefit, is that no one believes him any more.

A good point, allowing small business to write off good years, against previous bad ones.

Much better than the previous plan of 1 % tax cut, about a cup of coffee per week.

A bad point, more cash splashed around to waste.

If you wish to contribute to the cost of education, then provide free school goods, not cash, that can be spent/wasted on anything the parents choose.

This just goes to show it's simply a sweetener, and boy, do they need one at the moment.

When will they ever learn.

We all contribute in some way or another to the central kitty. The government is simply a distribution centre based on its own principles, in the same way that every individual has his/her priorities only based on the premise that someone else should contribute more than they do.
What amazes me is that most people seem to consider that somehow the government should provide all this largesse without a thought of where it's coming from. It always from someone else's pocket, usually the high profile "engine room" of the economy. Already there is talk of overseas investment in our economy being questioned.

I am reminded of Margaret Thatcher's famous quote " The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money"

You only have to see what is happening in Europe to see the truth in that comment.

snake, what you say is only partly true.

"I am reminded of Margaret Thatcher's famous quote " The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money"

You only have to see what is happening in Europe to see the truth in that comment."

Much of the economic problems of Europe today stem from the their slow economic growth following the U.S. financial crisis of 2008-2009, which resulted in unsustainable fiscal policies of some countries in Europe, such as Greece. The US financial crises had nothing to do with socialism and everything to do with capitalism, regardless, the end result is all bad.
What would old Margie think of that? We could send Swanee over there to fix their economic woes, he can cook the books as well as anyone. LOL

Oh dear Paul, how can you tell such porkies. "The US financial crises had nothing to do with socialism and everything to do with capitalism, regardless, the end result is all bad."

Mate we all know it was Clinton instructing the banks to give home loans to people who had no chance of meeting the repayments that brought that lot on. Please don't take us for mugs, that is of course, you actually believe the garbage you preach. In that case it says it all about lefties.

Then you get one right. "What would old Margie think of that? We could send Swanee over there to fix their economic woes, he can cook the books as well as anyone.", but for the wrong reason. Yes we should send Swanee over there, or over anywhere else for that matter, but only to get the idiot away from here.

The budget at face value will appear to be good for the majority, as an election is looming, however the surplus will quickly be drained from your pocket once the real effect of the carbon tax is felt. The companies costs will increase and this will be passed on to the consumer, make no mistake. Those most effected will be welfare recepients and working people who have no choice but to use fuels in order to get to work (if they still have a job because many will now be outsourced overseas). The rich will spend more time in countries which dont have the tax (investing their money in more profitable countries not paying the tax where previously their money stayed in OZ)as they have the time and money to do so (this is why the rich get richer etc by tax avoidance).
Taxes are always sold to the majority in this Robin Hood way. Dont be fooled.

So what you are saying, it's business as usual. How can we be fooled.

Hasbeen, you have a strange view of socialism and the part played by Commo Clinton in the GFC. You write: "Mate we all know it was Clinton instructing the banks to give home loans to people who had no chance of meeting the repayments that brought that lot on. Please don't take us for mugs, that is of course, you actually believe the garbage you preach. In that case it says it all about lefties."

Among Bill Clinton's biggest strokes of free-wheeling capitalism whilst in offer was the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, a cornerstone of Depression-era regulation. He also signed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, which exempted credit-default swaps from regulation. In 1995 Clinton loosened housing rules by rewriting the Community Reinvestment Act, which put added pressure on banks to lend in low-income neighborhoods. It is the subject of heated political and scholarly debate whether any of these moves are to blame for the GFC, but they certainly played a role in creating a permissive lending environment.
Do you consider 'creating a permissive lending environment' as some kind of Clinton socialism. Then again you of the extreme right view anyone left of Genghis Khan as a communist/socialist.

Interesting reply from the Mad Monk to Swaniee's budget. The class war has been re-ignited in Oz. People like Abbott have been doing their best to fuel a class war for years. Abbott's idea is also Robin Hoodish, only its rob from the vast majority of Australian's and give to the mega rich, the likes of Forrest, Rinehart Palmer,and of caurse, a host of multinationals, and then keep on giving, everything Australia has

Dear Paul1405,

I keep expecting more from the Opposition. But last
night in Mr Abbott's speech on the Budget 2012 - we
got the same old, same old, stuff. Attacks on the
Labor Government and telling us how great the Howard
era was. Nothing of any substance even remotely
related to the Budget 2012. And behind him the front-
benchers sat there nodding their heads. The man is
as thick as a brick and doesn't realise that his
attitude of - "I don't need to tell you," doesn't
hold much water with the voters. Why should any of us
vote for a man who wants to be Prime Minister (and
his party) who doesn't feel the need to tell any of us
where he's going to get the money to fill the black hole
in their costings, no mention of any substantial policies
or their costings, and so on. Simply attacking the
government and telling us how great things were - way back
in the Howard times - n longer works.

If he "doesn't need to tell us," we don't need to vote for
him and his party!

cont'd ...

It's really unfortunate that the once great Liberal
Party doesn't wake-up and realise the extent of the
real damage that Abbott is causing to the Liberal Party.
The majority of the electorate is not that stupid that
they can be hood-winked by the smokescreen that Abbott
and his front-bench is hiding behind.

Jan 2010 2pp Labor 54 Coalition 46
May 2012 2pp Labor 41 Coalition 59

Abbott is really ruining the Liberal party! And Juliar is doing such a sterling job?

As for the budget Swannie's last budget blew out by $20bn, but this time he is bringing in a surplus of $1.5bn. Riiiight! This time we should believe him because he used his fingers and toes?

Considering that Swan has completely closed off access to treasury to the coalition, it is extremely difficult for the coalition to give a detailed reply. However, if Swan gave the coalition access, then they could poke holes in Swan's threadbare budget.

Ah, the tangled web they weave, when they consistently - practice
to deceive... That's all they've got folks!

The reality according to the Australian Financial Review
is that Wayne Swan and the PM, did offer the Treasury
to the Coalition to do their costings - but Mr Abbott
turned them down.

No guesses as to why.

I don't understand how an Opposition leader given the
opportunity to respond to the government budget proposal
chooses instead to attack the government on non-budget
issues.

It appears the man has no understanding of the meaning
of a budget-proposal or he is totally incapable of offering
a realistic alternative for the electorate to accept.

They say he's a Rhodes Scholar. Now that's a contradiction.
How did he get it? From his high school principal - a priest?
Ah, wait ...

I have worked with incompetents and bullies and Mr Abbott
is demonstrating all the signs.

It's time that Turnbull or Costello take over if they
don't want the Liberal Party boat to sink.

After all Mr Abbott's popularity is only due to the
"anyone but Julia" thinking amongst some voters and is
very slim at best and not very deep. It could evaporate
quickly when held to account and with prime-time
pre-election exposure.

Shock horror!

Either this is Faux outrage or you have never listened to a budget reply before. Every reply by the opposition has attacked the government on non budget issues to some extent.

Rhodes scholarships are post graduate scholarships decided by Oxford University, based on scholarly works and other factors. Not favours for mates, as are Labor MPs.

As for "After all Mr Abbott's popularity is only due to the "anyone but Julia" thinking amongst some voters and is very slim at best and not very deep. It could evaporate quickly"

Dream on. The trust factor is not going to evaporate any time soon. The "what I said before the elections doesn't count now" tendency of labor is not going to be forgotten soon.

Hi Lexi,

You really do seem to have a big issue with Tony Abbott and express these views frequently on this forum. I’m happy for you to do that, but would ask you to take a step back and consider where we currently sit in the political cycle and what can be reasonably expected from various pollies.

As I have said before, Tony Abbott leads the opposition. Their job, by definition, is to oppose. That is what he and they are doing. Opposing the views of the government is a mechanism for rigorous testing of the feasibility and veracity of proposed bills and legislation. Through debate in the houses of parliament, bills are passed or altered and/or concessions given as each member either red, blue, green or black represents their constituents.

It makes absolutely no sense for the opposition (be it Labor or Liberal) to publicise alternative policy details half-way through the government’s term. What purpose would this serve?

Let him be the opposition leader now – you may not like the man but appreciate that he is playing a role in the governance of this country (however distasteful you find him personally). When the election is called, the Liberal & National coalition will need to explain to the voting public why they should be running the country by way of policies. Until then, we really cannot make an informed choice and honestly, we are not really required to. The only choice that matters is at the polling booth.

Lexi my sweet, the one thing that you Labor supporters have definitely proven over the years is that you are absolutely useless [or actually bloody hopeless] at, is choosing leaders.

It is very kind of you to keep advising the Libs on their choice of leaders. It tells them who they must definitely avoid, at all cost.

Do keep recommending Turnbull, we know he is the worst they could possibly choose, & the fact that you & Belly both like him, confirms that judgement.

Abbott won by one vote. The coalition have no idea how to put policies together. To much emphasis put on Rhodes Scholar, hard to believe, or he bought it.
If the Abbott supporters still push Abbott there is not much hope for the Australian future.
No one can vote for a party with no economic direction, or policies. Australian's are not that ?
The budget was put together very well, Hard to argue with any of it.
The miners have got to pay, and polluters have got to change their polluting ways. Without incentive to change, nothing will ever happen.

Lexi,

The Liberals in government, why do you ask about policy? You know their policy on budget strategy.
#1 Sack as many public servants as you you can, cut cut cut, but not the military, they are sacrosanct you never know when Uncle Sam will want you to go in and teach some starving third world country a lesson, sorry give some third world country freedom and democracy like they enjoy in Afghanistan and Iraq.
#2 The only good tax is one you impose on the poor, nothing for the rich just tax dodging and loop holes for them. Like the GST sharing arrangement $1 for the government and $1 for business as they rip off the system, the old cash in hand, no receipt caper etc.
#3 Hit the rich! yes the mega rich like pensioners and people on benefits. Introduce work for the pension scheme, It would not be that unreasonable to ask 80 year old's to work for the pension, only part time, they could do 60 hours a week down one of Clive Palmer's gold mines. The rest like those million lay about public servants who got the chop could clean Rinehart's house, its big enough and the kids wont do it. Who said the Libs don't have a heart, they will cut company tax out, yep, kaput, gone, no more, they will be a low taxing the rich, government. Naturally, like Labor the Lib's will want to help the struggling car industry, they will introduce a $200,0000 a year bonus to all Rolls Royce owners, regardless of income even the unemployed will be eligible for this scheme.
#4 To pay for all this there will have to be big cuts to non essential government services, like health, education, public transport etc.
#5 New work choices #2, like work choices #1 but more humanitarian. The main change will be, a doctors certificate will be required if you are going die before you 100th birthday, and if you are going to be dead for more than one day.

Dear Paul 1405,

Exactly my sentiments but I couldn't have
expressed them so beautifully.

More please!

Dear Peter Mac,

I'm well aware of the role of the Opposition but Mr
Abbott has gone well beyond that - its all very well
to hold the government to account - but to make
personal attacks on the PM's character -to totally
disrespect all of your political opponents and to try to
totally destruct everything that the government tries
to do - is more than just playing the role of "Opposing."

I find Mr Abbott to be a street fighter and a bully.
And as I stated in my previous post - I dread our country
returning to the polarised society that it was under Mr
Howard where criticism was common but productive discussion -
was rare. Where infrastructure, health, education, transport,
et cetera will once again be cut and issues like those of
asylum-seekers will grow into major blemishes. Where by the
end of their term in office Mr Abbott - like his mentor
Mr Howard will govern for his place in the record books
instead of for the good of the country (or even his own
party).

There are voters who don't want Julia Gillard. I am one who
does not want Mr Abbott. Anyone but him. And why should the
Liberal Party select (by one vote) a total incompetent when
they have potential good leaders worthy of the position of
PM - like Malcolm Turnbull, and for that matter Peter Costello.
Kroger's attack on Costello recently only confirms that the
man could be a good leader for the entire country and avoid
the future problems created by the Liberal Party.

A bit of a side light to this weeks machinations is the Pete and Mick scuffle on the conservative side. Liked the comment from Kroger. "I don't have lunch with Peter these days as I'm sick of sitting there for TWO HOURS listing to Peter attacking this one and that one." Mind you TWO HOUR LUNCH, yes Mick and Pete should be discussing the woes caused by those malingering workers during their TWO HOUR LUNCH BREAKS as they tuck into their lobster and champers! Kroger get a real job and give up the TWO HOUR LUNCH BREAK or is the TWO HOUR LUNCH BREAK official Liberal Party policy for all workers? What about it SM can we expect the TWO HOUR LUNCH BREAK as part of Work Choices #2.

Paul,

You must be desperate, making up fanciful straw men.

I see the latest Poll puts Abbott far ahead with regards preferred PM.

I see that with Juliar paying Thomson's $200 000 legal fees on the sly to keep him in parliament, and "suddenly" remembering to declare it when the papers found out.

Being in the Labor party means that you can live the high life on workers' dues, and when you get caught with your fingers in the till, the PM will bail you out with the dues from other unions. Thomson has pilfered so much money, and is now beholden to Juliar to keep him out of jail.

The Labor fat cats pretend to represent working families as long as the low paid mugs keep pouring dues into their coffers.

Hi Lexi,

I know that nothing I say will change your mind because I believe perspective requires one to have both eyes and ears open.

Street fighters and bullies who disrespect their political opponents? I would suggest that Tony Abbott is a nice guy compared to some past examples from your beloved Labor – Gough Whitlam (calling someone a cur is hardly respectful), Bob Hawke (portrayed as everyone’s mate but he had a nasty streak in him that was abhorrent, especially pre-PM days) and my favourite Paul Keating (brilliant but to this day he is a master of unbridled arrogance and stinging insults). Don’t forget Kevin Rudd who despite his carefully crafted placid and eloquent manner, held not only his political opponents but his own caucus in utter contempt.

And how about you on this very thread Lexi? It’s pretty grubby and disrespectful of you to suggest that TA got his Rhodes scholarship from his high school principal or a priest (not to mention ignorant). However, I guess it’s a step up from 579 who suggested it was bought. These comments are insulting to TA but more importantly they also belittle and insult the achievements of the hundreds of fine young people who are honoured in this way.

But that's the Labor way, isn't it? People who achieve and perform and derive economic benefits from this must be cut down, taxed and insulted because they are obviously bad. But people who are at the lower end of the socio-economic scale (whether they achieve and perform, or not) are all victims and must be rewarded.

I also find some interest in your suggestion that TA and a Liberal federal government will cut spending for “infrastructure, health, education and transport”. Last time I looked, these were primarily State responsibilities. I hope they do make significant cuts in the obese federal public service departments that shadow these State responsibilities that have grown due to the hopeless inability of the federal Labor government to delegate (to say “control freaks” would be disrespectful).

It has now reached the point that the die hard labor supporters are so desperate that those like Paul and lexi are fantsizing and simply lieing. For example Lexi said, "issues like those of
asylum-seekers will grow into major blemishes".

Lexi that is a complete lie and you know that. For many years illegals were not a problem, they only became a problem when the Rudd government invited them in and put out the welcome mat. How many thousand have come since 2008? About 600 have perished in effort to get here, which their blood is on the hands of Labor.

Lexi you do youself, or Labor, no favours by posting those lies. The blemish has been all Labor on this issue, who do not seem to care that so many have died.

Paul is just posting utter juvenile rubbish and I am surprized that Lexi agrees with his posts.

Illustrates how desperate they are.

I wish to apologist to all conservatives for Lexi's attacks on the Mad Monk and insinuating he got his Toad Scholarship from his high school principle, Tony went straight from primary school at St Aloysius' College to St Ignatius' College, then he attended St John's College at Sydney University finally ending his 'education' at the St. Patrick's Seminary. He went to that many saints you would think it would have been enough to turn him into one himself. Seems even god has his rejects Tut Tut.

Paul

You even stuffed that up.

Prior to entering the Australian Parliament, Abbott studied for a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws at Sydney University and for a Master of Arts as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He later trained as a seminarian and worked as a journalist, business manager, political advisor.

So he is a qualified Lawyer and economist as well as being a Rhodes Scolar completing his third degree as post graduate Masters at Oxford.

There is no one on the Labor bench that comes close. That Labor is getting constantly thrashed in the polls shows how well he has led the coalition. He is now personally far preferred as PM to the Liar that Labor fields.

If one wishes to enter the public arena as a high profile politician like an Abbott or a Gillard one must be prepared for criticism. This criticism may take the form of, shall we say light constrictive criticism such as "Tony, my dear chap, I can not find within myself the smallest of inclination to agree with what after all is undoubtedly a reasonable and sound policy of yours."
Or you could say "Mad Monk, your full of garbage, and your policy stinks to high heaven." Both are acceptable, that's politics.
Like if you enter this forum and post comment you can expect others to unload on you from time to time. If I couldn't take that then I would stick to the other forum I'm on 'Flowers Can Be Fun' All though things are hotting up there too. Just the other day when I posted. "I think chrysanthemums are yummy" That no good B$%#ch, that Har@#t of the flower bed. Jan from Whopping retorted with "I think chrysanthemums are ghastly." How could a person say that about chrysanthemums. I have not returned to the flower forum since.
Banjo you posted "die hard labor supporters are so desperate that those like Paul," I take offense at that I am a Green not a Labor supporter. The rest of your post I either agree with or don't care. Banjo I invite you to come out of your dark and dingy conservative cave and enjoy the sun shine with us Greens. Come comrade enjoy!

I agree with you Paul – I think chrysanthemums are lovely and they last a long time in a vase.

I also agree that there is a degree of rough & tumble associated with politics (and blogging!) that we should accept and not take too personally.

I was simply pointing out that Lexi, who has repeated taken exception to the alleged poor behaviour of Tony Abbott, should be careful not to make disrespectful and inaccurate remarks about others when she is accusing them of doing the same.

Paul,
I do not care if you are offended, in fact it is slightly amusing.

Your comments are so juvenile, perhaps you are not old enough to vote.

Your reference to comrade simply confirms my view that greens are watermelons. Green on outside, red inside and full of water.

Paul,

Most on this blog at least attempt to justify their criticisms. Your fanciful and unsubstantiated slagging off of individuals leaves most wondering whether you have been smoking something. But then you are a greens supporter and probably need the "medicinal" support.

P.S. Another conviction Labor MP:

"Former state Labor MP Angela D'Amore has lost a judicial review of a finding of corruption against her by the Independent Commission Against Corruption."