Defence
Never said I was against forward defence policy nor that defence in general is not important. Simply the INCREASE in spending does not seem necessary when it is not a particularly pressing issue and the government seems to want to do anything it can to reach a surplus.
Healthcare
Yes the state governments look after healthcare but it’s the federal government that gives them the money in the first place. It’s clear what the federal government is trying to do – underfund health and hospitals so the states plead for more money as a result the government will increase GST claiming it was their only option and wasn’t their fault. As I’ve said before $7 isn’t that much but the cost is effectively a tax (albeit very small) for visiting the doctor when it doesn’t seem to be needed (unless there is something more subtle going on). Health cards generally have limited cover for dentists/specialists PHI will be needed by more people.
Employment
Employment should be largely the responsibility of the individual but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t get support. It’s those that are young that need this support the most. Instead the government is offering a $10,000 incentive for future employers to take on unemployed people under 50. Obviously they want people over 50 to stay in the workforce but it’s not like they need extra help with selling themselves when they should well and truly be at the peak of their careers with the most experience, skills and qualifications on offer. Going overseas for work? That’s what we want all the intelligent people taking their skills elsewhere, sorry no jobs Australia’s full.
Carbon Tax
The carbon tax was mostly on businesses, the fuel excise is mostly on individuals. All Abbot has done is shift the costs from businesses to consumers. The carbon tax was never a good idea and was ineffective both economically and environmentally, it would not reduce average global temperatures and because no one else is doing it we put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage. Pollutants of the agricultural industry? Are you talking about pesticides? Because pesticides=/=greenhouse gases (and more specifically carbon). But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were talking about enteric fermentation from livestock. The methane they release is significant but I doubt many of the pollies have even heard about it or know what methane is. Do you have something against ag though? It’s an important industry subjected to massive fluctuations.
Never said I was against forward defence policy nor that defence in general is not important. Simply the INCREASE in spending does not seem necessary when it is not a particularly pressing issue and the government seems to want to do anything it can to reach a surplus.
Healthcare
Yes the state governments look after healthcare but it’s the federal government that gives them the money in the first place. It’s clear what the federal government is trying to do – underfund health and hospitals so the states plead for more money as a result the government will increase GST claiming it was their only option and wasn’t their fault. As I’ve said before $7 isn’t that much but the cost is effectively a tax (albeit very small) for visiting the doctor when it doesn’t seem to be needed (unless there is something more subtle going on). Health cards generally have limited cover for dentists/specialists PHI will be needed by more people.
Employment
Employment should be largely the responsibility of the individual but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t get support. It’s those that are young that need this support the most. Instead the government is offering a $10,000 incentive for future employers to take on unemployed people under 50. Obviously they want people over 50 to stay in the workforce but it’s not like they need extra help with selling themselves when they should well and truly be at the peak of their careers with the most experience, skills and qualifications on offer. Going overseas for work? That’s what we want all the intelligent people taking their skills elsewhere, sorry no jobs Australia’s full.
Carbon Tax
The carbon tax was mostly on businesses, the fuel excise is mostly on individuals. All Abbot has done is shift the costs from businesses to consumers. The carbon tax was never a good idea and was ineffective both economically and environmentally, it would not reduce average global temperatures and because no one else is doing it we put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage. Pollutants of the agricultural industry? Are you talking about pesticides? Because pesticides=/=greenhouse gases (and more specifically carbon). But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were talking about enteric fermentation from livestock. The methane they release is significant but I doubt many of the pollies have even heard about it or know what methane is. Do you have something against ag though? It’s an important industry subjected to massive fluctuations.
), which will not have any profound effects on consumptions and thus carbon emissions. However, it most likely will be better than the carbon tax - which did not succeed in discouraging environmentally damaging behaviours by making firms bear the costs of their negative externalities. 
