Heartless hypocrisy
WELCOME to the New Year, says the most heartless federal government of all time.
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When Tony Abbott said all Australians should assist in budget repair, what he meant to say was “with the exception of politicians, big business and the rich”.
The Liberals went to the previous election promising there would be no changes to the age pension.
This promise was made in the context of them getting elected and receiving a Commonwealth salary. They then did not deliver on this promise and changed the pension rules.
The Liberal politicians will say that they put a 2 per cent tax levy on salaries above $180,000 so they are being a part of budget repair.
Not so as the Liberals made sure the levy finishes at the end of June 2017, and then the only people attacked are the 330,000 retired or just-retired Australians who have put money aside all their life to be self-funded retirees relying on receiving a part age pension.
Perfect timing for the politicians; hit the retirees in January with a permanent reduction in age pension but give yourself a permanent tax reduction in July.
I and the other 329,999 Australians would be happy to play a part in the budget repair and have the asset test change staggered in over six years but no, we have been singled out as not worthy and the greed of the Liberals made sure they would not be impacted.
The current minister says the change will only affect a small percentage of people. That alone shows how out of touch Liberal politicians are.
The very fact it is only a small percentage of people being affected should ring alarm bells it is grossly unfair and inequitable.
It is an absolute disgrace and Malcolm Turnbull couldn’t care less.
The minister who bought this in was Scott Morrison – the most caring of politicians for the rich, big business and fellow politicians.
The age pension was an entitlement for Australians if they met applicable income and asset tests. People retired under those rules only to have them changed overnight.
The Liberals oversee politician entitlements, entitlements that only they have, we don’t and entitlements they are constantly caught out rorting.
Do they get rid of those entitlements? No, it is far better to attack people who least can afford it.
Who will be next? We must never forget this lot.
Russell Hanson
Wagga
MP’s double standard
SO SUSSAN Ley has admitted she made a mistake by billing taxpayers for a trip up the coast with her partner while supposedly on official business.
And while she was there, incredibly, she bought a property worth around $800,000, just on the spur of the moment.
After this blatant rort was revealed by the media, she immediately apologised, repaid the money saying it was just an error of judgement.
Sorry Sussan, this well-used excuse doesn’t pass either the pub test or the sniff test.
However, in your case all is forgiven and forgotten – until the next time.
If this pathetic excuse works for politicians then it should work for everyone.
So tomorrow, I will go down to my bank, walk in behind the counter and help myself to some currency.
If and when I am collared by the police, all I have to say is that it was an honest mistake and that I thought my actions were within the rules. If requested, I will then return the money, apologise and tell the police I had made an error of judgement.
Under the rule of law, everyone is supposed to be equal so, if a similar feeble excuse works for politicians, it should work for me.