Sometime contributor to OLO, David Leyonhjelm, although out of politics, has kindly provided information on just “how much debt the government has racked up for EACH of us believing, rightly that it can be difficult to translate billion dollar figures in a way that the debt is relevant to us personally.

In 2018, then Senator Leyonhjelm convinced the government to include per capita debt in budget papers. The information seems to have been “missed” by the good old mainstream media.

However, Mr. Leyonhjelm is able to advise us mushrooms that the debt is now $28,036 per person, and it will increase to $33,950 in 2024-25 - averaged over 25 million Australians . But, as not all of us pay income tax, the debt for the 14.7 million people who do is close to double the amount, each.

The Intergenerational Report projects that the debt will remain above $30,000 each for 30 years, then increase to more than $40,000 by 2055.

Leyonhjelm points out that even the unborn will still be paying interest on the debt when they end their working lives, and the debt still won’t be less. And, what about when interest rates rise, as they must, eventually.

A reduction in government spending is the main answer, but that’s not going to happen. With over half the population on government funding, politicians aren’t going to tell people that they are no longer “entitled to other people’s money”. Increased productivity? Fat chance.

David Leyonhjelm rightly believes that our “fate” will depend on whether enough of us vote for politicians and parties that are prepared to do what is needed.

The response to that is, where the hell are such politicians and parties? There is nobody resembling such people in Australia at the present time.

How much should we pay our politicians?

How much should we pay our politicians?
Foxy,
About half of what they're getting now & no Bureaucrat & high ranking Academics should get more than the Prime Minister.
Research scientists should get normal Public Service Pay & if they make a significant discovery they should get a bonus.
Anyone who thinks they deserve more are most welcome to put their merits on the table for the highest bidder in private enterprise !
Medical staff should be graded between Tradesman & a Govt Minister.
Young unemployed should serve in a National Service until they find employment. People who don't put in any effort to learn English have to accept Labourer wages.
Prices & Wages/salary freeze must be put in place very soon.
Either flat tax or Transaction Tax must also be implemented before long.
There's too much fine-tuning needed to mention in a little 350 word post.

Hi individual,

I totally agree with you. Some salaries and perks
are just out of control. What gets me is that
those who really work hard like our health care
workers struggle to treat the growing numbers
of patients and they don't get paid well. A cut in
services for them would mean a decrease in staff
in an already struggling to cope industry.

So many aged care workers for example are forced to
manage infection control and care while also severely
depleted of staff - which means residents are going without
basic care including food, wound care, and bathing.
While our politician's salaries are not being cut.

I wonder if David Leyonhjelm's suggestion of
cuts in spending would involve his own salary?
And would he be prepared to put his money where his mouth is?

Politicians' pay is not responsible for the debt, and David Leyonhjelm is no longer a politician, which is a pity because, although he is a bit of an oddbod, he has a better brain than most of the galahs who keep being re-elected by equally backward voters. And he didn't suggest cuts in anyone's salary

Politicians' pay is not responsible for the debt,
ttbn,
So ! All Public Servants are overpaid when lined up against those who do more work ! This is not to say there isn't a possibility of two or three Public Servants working beyond their obligation. We can only generalise when it comes to people being employed for their "qualifications" rather than their actual usefulness & need.
Big Dollars should need to be earned not merely given because of some questionable Uni ticket.
Those high-end medicos, armed Forces, engineers et al are definitely entitled to above average pay but then so should the service people who are grossly under-rated without whom many a professional would be left out in the cold !
Most of the high salaries are not warranted at all !