Where did Labor spend all the money exactly?

[bordsilver]

^ So you're saying that the debt to income level (which is different to GDP BTW) for the Australian Government is low because theoretically ALL of our incomes actually belong to the Government? Yet more proof that socialists think the people are slaves.

 

[bordsilver]

There are dozens of internationally respected economists and institutions who have endorsed our government's spending initiatives during the Global Financial Crisis as having a material effect on avoiding a recession or depression.

Pretty much all of these guys opinions were a priori. The ANU study commissioned by the Australian Government that estimated the impact of fiscal stimulus on household expenditure showed that "the direct payments made to households by the Australian government in early 2009 - the Tax Bonus for Working Australians - had no discernible effect on consumption, at least of non-durables. Additionally, the impact of the announcement that payments were to be made had only a small and transient impact." I wonder why the Treasury declined to provide a link to the specifically commissioned paper on their website alongside the propaganda.

Anyway, as reported by Steve Kates and others, we did have a recession. Besides the issue that Government expenditure is spuriously recorded in the GDP statistics as a contribution to growth irrespective of what it has been spent on, the "avoidance" of a recession is because, by convention, it requires two consecutive quarters of falling GDP to be officially counted. But look at the facts and decide whether it is the conventional definition that is the problem. In every way but the official way, Australia experienced a recession. But whatever you wish to call it, a downturn of some sort we most definitely did have. The unemployment rate rose from 4.3 per cent in March 2008 to 6.1 per cent in March 2009 - a 40% increase.

More importantly, one of the best measures of real incomes (far better than real GDP) is real net national disposable income per capita (as reported by the ABS). On any basis (trend, seasonally adjusted or original), people's real incomes FELL between March 2008 to March 2010. So over half of all Australians experienced two years of stagnating or falling real incomes and yet we "avoided a recession". In contrast real incomes per capita grew consistently in the preceding ten years with an average annual growth of 2.7 per cent. Yippee for the Kruddy-Swanster geniuses keeping us "out of recession" by giving out provenly useless fiscal stimulus and building overpriced school tuckshops, COLA's and halls that won't make a jot of difference to the future productivity of the nation but kept the members of the building unions employed and super-high expense. And now we have well over $30,000 of debt per worker forced onto the credit card. Luckily they have a bunch of hamster slaves who can work for free for half a year to pay for this. I love working for free in the interests of helping Swanny's mates keep their McMansions.

 

[willrocks]

Foreign Aid

http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/DAP.html

Social Welfare

According to the bi-annual report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in every four households lives on social security payments. The annual cost of welfare has increased to $119 billion, equivalent to $1,300 for every person including children.

Technology

THE National Broadband Network Co has been accused of presiding over a $5 billion blowout in labour costs, but chief executive Mike Quigley committed yesterday to finding savings to keep the network's capital cost at $37.4bn.

Arts

Improved Employment Conditions

LABOR'S bureaucrats are splashing taxpayer money to deck their offices out with $15,000 coffee machines.

News Limited can reveal the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science Research and Tertiary Education has dropped $75,000 on buying and installing just five high end coffee machines for its Canberra office.

Far from the traditional office tea room featuring tea bags and instant coffee, bureaucrats at the mega department are sipping on up to 16 selections from the top range machine including cappuccino, espresso, latte, mocha and hot chocolate.

Foreign Relations

The Telegraph also reported last week that Mr Rudd set a new international benchmark for travel in his first nine months in the job, clocking up more than $1 million on flights and hotel suites- by visiting more countries on average than the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Climate Change

$158 million, 15 year lease of the "Nishi Building" for the Department of Climate Change

Education

Wasted $16 million on the failed 'Teach Next' scheme. $5 million plus advertising campaign for the Schoolkids bonus and the so called promotional "school kids kits".

 

[errol43]

More $$$ to the pile of new spending..$20 k loan to apprentices, $52 million for high speed rail Brisbane to Melbourne and $5.6 million for students so that they can visit Canberra to see Question time .

A lot more to come, Still 2 weeks to go!

Regards Errol 43

 

[TheEnd]

I'm trying to tell a mate how bad Labor have screwed the economy but he wont listen...Even sent him 'Stefan Molyneux's 'Fall of Australia' but he reckons Stefan is all wrong.....Stefan is using facts and statistics, real numbers that prove whats really going on here....I cant handle it all much longer I know that much!

 

[Shaddam IV]

That high speed rail thing is such a blatant pre-election lie.

 

[ShinyStuff]

Was 'Blue Poles' "worth" $3 million ?

Yep. I think it was worth more. Seriously. I heard a rumour years back that US offered us a blank cheque for its return.... I personally think it is A highlight of the Gallery, that andthe sculpture garden. Jmho

Shiny

 

[registered nutcase]

$20 k loan to apprentices

It is not a great option, but a step towards improving things, depending how it is given out. As someone who is a mature age apprenticeship, I am a big fan of the 20k loan. The wage of an apprentice is so poor these days, that it is almost impossible to start an apprenticeship if you are not living at home

 

[AngloSaxon]

Relocating the Sydney office of the Federal Government to a new $670 million building with $26 million worth of new furniture. Selling off the old furniture, much of it historic, to 'fund' the new furniture and making $50,000 at auction. No, I'm not kidding. Yet the new building is unsuitable for people of high office to attend because so much of the office space and the lifts constructed from transparent glass.

From the 11/8/13 Sunday Telegraph:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...niture-fire-sale/story-fni0cx12-1226694812703

The new parliamentary office DEXUS tower is described as an "eco-paradise", featuring glass lifts and walls and open plan offices.

The cost of fitting out three floors of the tower cost taxpayers $25.4 million.

During the relocation in June, scores of leather-backed chairs from designer furniture house Vitra were delivered to Philip Street where they were stored prior being moved to the Bligh Street office.

The chairs are estimated to cost between $2-3,000 each.

At the same time, scores of original Eames leather office chairs are being sold, some just a few years old.

A source involved in the office relocation said the fitout costs included building an internal Cabinet room that was "private" and "soundproof".

"The problem with the building is that it is so full of glass and open-plan that they had to build a special room in its core for the Cabinet meetings," the source said.

It is understood Mr Rudd dislikes the oval-shaped tower, due to security issues arising from its transparent walls and lift.

At least one high-level meeting has been held at a hotel, due to security issues.

The Government gave the green light for the Department of Finance and Deregulation to relocate into the new building after deciding it was cheaper than upgrading the old Philip Street offices in Charterbridge House.

The old offices include a wood-panelled prime minister's room renovated by former prime minister Bob Hawke in the 1980s.

Can't find the online version of the 18th August follow up that described how the auction went, but yes, the historic furniture and bound Hansard records sold for $50,000 in total. Contributed a lot towards that new $700million office that can't be used!!!!!

 

[col0016]

^^^ That really pisses me off. Not only are they wasting money but they're doing it on poorly designed buildings and throwing away valuable furniture to replace it with modern crap.

 

[errol43]

Isn't Campbell Newman building new office administration building in Brisbane?

Can't have MP's working in sub standard offices can we.

AS don't mind you pointing to the waste looking after Federal MP's but give the members here on SS the full story of how both red and blue build great offices for themselves.

Regards Errol 43

 

[AngloSaxon]

When I see it I will share it - that's from an open source. I'm only one man.

I started a thread about 3 weeks ago on councils gouging money from ratepayers, passing on information passed to me from a cluent. I try.

All I've got on the NSW Liberals is their new mandatory uniforms for the train station staff have brought out the staff in rashes due to their high synthetic fibre content (and perceived low quality). Again from a client who is a services providor. Most of the stories they told me are about old problems, including the lavish contracts the Transit Officers are on. That is on contracts written by former NSW State Labor govt, I'll give them a break and not elaborate.

It's pretty clear who I'm swayed to in this election, if anyone has noticed, but don't think I'm not open minded to pointing out waste wherever it can be found or whatever Blue/Red/Green camp it originates.

I think the policies on climate change 'direct action', NDIS, parental leave, and others by the Coalition are wasteful and un-necessary. But I think so many in society want government to be doing things it has no business doing. Political parties can ignore those people, and their votes. Or they can formulate policies aimed at of winning office with their damage limited, instead of the Labor side getting a go and on the same topic implement economically destructive policies like the carbon tax.

 

[errol43]

Now the blue team comes up with a $6000 bonus for dole bludgers to get a job..

It just doesn't seem right for the blue team to engage in such madness.

Get a job as an apprentice and you can get another $20 k loan.

The bar is getting higher, what will the red team do now.

The sex worker women should get the $75k as they are usually high paid women.

Go to bed Errol, you're getting cranky.

Regards Errol 43

 

[JulieW]

The Coalition's scheme will provide mothers with 26 weeks of paid parental leave, at their actual wage or the national minimum wage (whichever is greater), plus superannuation. In contrast, Labor's parental leave scheme is paid at 18 weeks minimum wage.

A fair dinkum paid parental leave scheme will strengthen the economy and provide much-needed assistance to families when they need it most.

Under the Coalition's scheme, women on average salaries will be the big winners.

The Coalition's paid parental leave scheme will result in a woman earning the average full time salary of around $65,000 receiving $32,500 and they will be around $21,300 better off under the Coalition's scheme relative to Labor's scheme.

Importantly, the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme also includes superannuation. For example, a woman earning $65,000 who has two children when aged 26 and 29, will be around $50,000 (in today's dollars) better off in retirement than under Labor's scheme, which does not include superannuation.

Under our scheme, fathers will be eligible for two weeks out of the 26 weeks for dedicated parental leave at their actual wage or the national minimum wage (whichever is greater), plus superannuation.

http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-ne...leave-scheme?gclid=CMKx2I7Dm7kCFUcdpQodS10A0Q

Don't worry Errol - words are failing quite a few people these days.

 

[errol43]

JulieW..What happens when the 6 months are up...I know increase the Child Minding fees to 100%... Its only fair...You bring the child into the world, it's only fair that the government looks after it till it can earn a living.

It will be only $52billion...

When is this welfare madness going to stop?

Regards Errol 43

 

[petey]

Can't wait for the "Where did Liberal spend all the money exactly?" thread that I predict will appear ~ August 2017.

 

[Clawhammer]

The Pirate party will save us.

 

[Court Jester]

The sex worker women should get the $75k as they are usually high paid women.

Go to bed Errol, you're getting cranky.

Regards Errol 43

and just why shouldn't they be entitled to paid maternity leave like an office worker? They are legally employed and earning that amount of income they should be treated no different to an office drone.

 

[Court Jester]

Can't wait for the "Where did Liberal spend all the money exactly?" thread that I predict will appear ~ August 2017.

lol I am waiting for the -- I cant believe the liberals are increasing this tax or cutting this spending or firing our nurses threads--- it will be much sooner than 2017

 

[Court Jester]

The Pirate party will save us.

yarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr