suze......With our rapidly aging population, we need more young workers bringing up the rear.

You hit the nail on the head.

The problem is, our youth unenployment numbers are rising and, if this latest challenge goes through, whereby lowering the age for an adult wage, that will amplify the problem.

I have to agree with the stand from a long time poster, we need some type of national service for our youth, that, rather than protecting our nation, attends to the many public shortcomings we face on a daliy basis simply because our system cant cope.

What better encouragement could you get to motivate self success in our youth.

As for PPL, it should be funded though parents personal super funds and tax breaks should be given to expectant parents. At lest then the tax payer can be left alone to continue trying the plug the massive hole we now have.

I do not follow any political party and as is usual for me where government policy is concerned, I do not mind what is decided but expect that policy would be evidence based, agreed through direct consultation with the public and that there be measurable goals and value for money obtained.

PPL does not satisfy many of these conditions, if any. The problem is that government policy, speaking of both sides, is driven by feminist idealism. The public does not get a look in. As well, there is the over-arching policy of growth, and the persistent high level of immigration that is (wrongly) claimed to build economic and social growth (whatever social growth is). There is evidence that the public disagree with some if not all of these policies.

The federal bureaucracy has been the leader in feminist-inspired employment policy since the days of Gough Whitlam. That was expanded to become a policy of 'diversity', which along with positive affirmative action and targets - they do exist - dominate personnel management policy and especially recruitment and promotion. Arguably the policies must be failures because government agencies still have staff beavering away on affirmative action and 'diversity' 'initiatives'.

What government should do is review the need for the policies that give rise to (feminist) solutions in search of a problem, such as PPL. However in the interim it is mildly amusing to watch the feminist elite of educated middle class careerists promoting inequity for women and arguing over it. There are so many secondary agendas coming to the fore.

The baby Bonus and PPL are just vote buying exercises and both should be axed. As should the high immigration rate. However both major parties are in receipt of large donations from big business and the donors expect some value for the funds given. Business wants a higher population to sell more consumer goods. They care not if our standard of living goes down as long as the sales go up. Immigration has had a large impact in pushing up home prices and now first timers don't get a look in.

It was wrong for Costello's baby bonus, now adopted by Labor as well and now there is Abbott's PPL which will just add another burden to tax revenue. On top of this there is the NBN, Gonski and the NDIS. Where doe it all stop. I cannot see one projected scheme that actually contributes any revenue or savings.

We cannot build the infrastructure for our population now so what about the future? When the time comes for the need to increase our population, we can bring in more immigrants and favour those with young families.

If people want to have kids it is up to them to bear the cost. It is after all their choice.

Banyo, while i was a Howard supporter, and now an Abbott supporter, i thought the baby bonus was a real shocker, in fact, i commented about it when it was introduced.

Although i am no fan of hand outs, if anything, what should have been done with BB money, was to make child care affordable for working parents, rather than be a lollipop for many who either couldn't, or didn't use it as was intended

All the BB did was encourage too many single mums, many who were kids themselves, to spit out kids, with no intention, experience or no how toward providing them with a well mentored upbringing. Of cause there are the exceptions, but daddy they are the minority.

Like many well intended government policies, from both sides, most governments lack implementation skills resulting in gross waste of public funds.

Abbotts PPS on the other hand is an outright shocker and hopefully wont see the light of day.

Its just a pity some were gullible enough to be sucked in.

I say sucked in because anyone who has any idea of where we are right now, knew full well this would not eventuate. I think it was an elaborate political hoax.

Butch,
I am not neccessarilly a LNP voter either. Except I felt it essential, prior to the last election, that we get rid of the worst government in our history. Done that and now I expect the LNP government to perform with financial management and giving people an incentive to get ahead. Labor left them with a huge debt that has to be repaid.

They should ditch the baby bonus and can the PPL. We cannot go ahead with the NDIS or the Gonski education scheme. If Abbott has to go back on his word, so be it. Most will accept we have a huge debt to pay off, which leaves a lot less than we would like for other things.

Stopping the illegal entrants has to be the first priority and will save millions. Morrison is doing well so far.

We can do without the baby bonus and the PPL.

Banjo "If Abbott has to go back on his word, so be it."

Whilst I don't like those policies I like even less the political culture of lying to get elected and subsequent broken promises that seems to have become such a routine part of the political landscape.

Far better to stick to committments and if being in office has changed perspective on the affordability of programs then go to the next election with announced policies to stop them. My impression is that overall the LNP still has a chance of going to the next election having largely kept their word (getting debt under control being an outstanding one). If they can't keep their word then go back to the electorate with a plan that they think will work.

Dropping such clear policies without going to the poles after the noise they made about Julia's lie(s) would not be a good look.

R0bert