The Budget is coming.... Run for your lives

Basil Faulty · Guru

The Budget is coming.... Run for your lives

twobob · Guru

When will they STOP shifting the goal posts on retirement.

Stuff them, they are ok, but for many, it is a nightmare. Its not as if we snuk up on them. I have worked a lifetime to get to the end. Paid the tax as I went, and they still change them.

I have paid for my retirement, and I shall have it. They best be advised, we are getting bigger as a group, and more vocal. No good telling me NOW, they got it wrong, as we did not cause the problem, nor should we pay for it.

We have paid, and now its time to recieve all of it. End of story

Ma · Guru

HERE HERE Two Bob

Basil Faulty · Guru

It's the constantly changing rules on Super that get up my nose...

Cruising Granny · Guru

Bring on the Grey Nomads Party!
Who actually represents us to the powers who want to be?
Who do we speak to, to get our factual points across?
As individuals we can be as grumpy as we like about the things that p...s us off, but until we speak up in credible numbers, stating just the facts, not the emotional whinge, no one will get it.
No one will hear us. No one will do anything until they get it.
And they will never get it until we speak up, singing the same song in credible numbers.
There's strength in numbers, and the bigger the number the better they'll hear.
Let's be heard! Cheers Chris

dave06 · Guru

well if we can get a placement for our son then we will be taking our "retirement" in a couple of years time, they can play with their little goal post as much as they like, we will be out there enjoying the "simple pleasures"

I would like to see any pollie do an average of 50 years of work and then get to the end of it only to be told, umm sorry cant afford to pay you the pittance of a pension, you will have to work till you die!!!

these bludgers were born with the proverbial silver spoon, had everything handed to them and dont know anything about actually "working" for a living, stuff them I'm retiring whether they like it or not!!!!!

who the hell do they think they are!!!, do they not still work for "us" or not, my god somebody has got to wake these twits up, where's a "grassy noll" when we need it??

Basil Faulty · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:

Bring on the Grey Nomads Party!
Who actually represents us to the powers who want to be?
Who do we speak to, to get our factual points across?
As individuals we can be as grumpy as we like about the things that p...s us off, but until we speak up in credible numbers, stating just the facts, not the emotional whinge, no one will get it.
No one will hear us. No one will do anything until they get it.
And they will never get it until we speak up, singing the same song in credible numbers.
There's strength in numbers, and the bigger the number the better they'll hear.
Let's be heard! Cheers Chris

Ok Granny, did some digging around and came up with this, the Australain Seniors Party.
http://www.aboutseniors.com.au/index.php/meeting_place/viewthread/425/

Had a squizz at it and it may be ok even good but you are spot on the moment any of the politicians detects us making an emotionally charged whinge they walk away thinking "hey no threat there".....
So the facts have to be presented in a clear rationale and credible way, sniping at thr ridiculous conditions Pollies enjoy will get you community support but won't get you elected, there are too many people in society that think that we live the life of Riley (who was Riley anyway) we don't work, so we dopn't contribute seems to be what a few are saying. We know differently convincing others is the problem... Similarly the Veterans Party fell into dissarray because the public perception was " Who would want a bunch of mentally deranged Veterans running the country?
The other problem is that vast sums of MONEY are needed to feed the party machine, I'd make a donation but many can't afford more than a few $ and it litterally needs BIG$$$ as Pauline found out, this could be a challenge.
You need articulate, well informed people constantly making a nuisance of themselves ( ***k Here comes that old bloke with the black Dog - I'v got an urgent meeting) to get anywhere or be a Paris Hilton type and Granny you would not lower yourself to her standards (would you? but if you have a tape send it in a plain brown envelope) to get elected.
Now here is a radical thought bit late for this budget but I'll have a word with Dad Rudd and ask him if rather than give pensioners a pay rise he would put the money aside into a trust fund for us to set up our own Political party..... I can see all those who would benifit sieze that idea - NOT
30% of the population is over 50 and should sieze the idea of political representation alas out of that 30% about 3% would show any real interest....

Cruising Granny · Guru

Once again your words of wisdom ring oh, so true Basil.
My biggest "whinge" is, those who make the decisions on our behalf don't ask us what the priorities are. They don't do enough, if any, research into the issues which affect us the most. Has anyone ever been asked, by a politician or his/her staff about the issues which affect your life the most? Do they listen and hear the answer
To get the polly's attention, we need to concentrate on advising and convincing the polly's senior staff member of the issues and solution, so they can ultimately feed the information to the policitican. It then goes to all the committees to be addressed, discussed and decided on.
The politicians need to research the decisions which need to be made to bring about the improvements. As we don't live in an ideal world, we have to work hard to get the message across.
This applies to everything and every law in this country.
Speak up, or shut up! Don't whinge over the back fence, or at the post office. Stand up and be counted. If it bugs you, it probably bugs someone else.
Cheers, "Bucket Mouth" Chris

Basil Faulty · Guru

Granny the problem is the Politicians don't want to know the truth they want to know who is going to vote for them and how to bribe the populace for their votes.
Even Our Pauline found that out the hard way....

Cruising Granny · Guru

And that's the sad truth Basil.
It's all about votes, and not the voters. It's so frustrating, and dishonest.
And we pay them huge dollars to represent US! You and I, and everyone out there trying to live their lives within their means. Well, some of us are trying to live within our means anyway.
But let's not give up just yet. Keep up the good fight.
Cheers Chris

Basil Faulty · Guru

Superannuation benefits for the rich will be cut in half to fund a $30-a-week pension increase for the poorest Australians in the upcoming federal Budget.

Treasurer Wayne Swan conceded on Tuesday that the impact of the recession means the budget will remain in the red for longer than initially expected.

Media reports, citing government sources, suggest the budget could be in deficit for six years, and that the 2009/10 deficit will be close to $70 billion, double what was forecast by the government in February.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the budget is not expected to return to surplus until 2015.

It reports that in a bid to bring the budget back into the black the government is expected to announce a raft of spending cuts including a plan to cut half the amount of money wealthy people can salary sacrifice into superannuation.

The move would save $2.7 billion over four years and help fund a $30 a week pension increase, the newspaper reports.

Under the present rules employees under 50 can contribute up to $50,000 a year to superannuation and pay just 15 per cent tax.

The budget changes will lower the contribution caps from $50,000 to $25,000 a year for those under aged 50.

Those over 50 will have the tax concessional amount they can contribute to super cut from $100,000 o $50,000.

The opposition expects the government will also be forced to borrow even more money, possibly up to $300 billion, which will delay economic recovery.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Why does no one ever mention the Fringe Benefits Tax payable on salary sacrificing super?
I know, because I had to.
FBT is much more than PAYE tax.
Another loop hole which costs the taxpayer in the short term and the long run.
I knew the long-term super bucket was too big to be true.
We pay tax when we ear and tax when we spend.
Even pensioners pay tax when they spend. The "benefits" we receive don't come anywhere close to meeting the true cost of living no matter how much Home Brand foods we buy.
PBS prescriptions are not $5.30 each, but I don't recall my pension being increased to cover that cost. I only have to get about 6 scripts filled every couple of weeks. Many have much more than I do. And that's just one example.
I think we have to get on the hammer of the Pensioners Party to get the message across and make it loud and clear we're all aware of the world around us and what happens in it.