going broke fast

[Dodge]

I feel sorry for the worlds disasters But Y does our gov so quickly hand over hugh amounts of money at a drop of a hat , I know we are keeping the piece ect but a few years back my sister lost her home in a big bush fire in canberra, she was put on the street with nothing, then given nothing and had to fight to get a cent to move on.
maybe we should have a poll on where our hard earned tax payers $ goes frist

[NAK302]

i'd like to see my taxes spent on our local community rather than pumping up the big cities. get rid of state government, i say. that would save billions that then could be used a lot wiser. water is a good example that needs investing in, especially out here where good rain was 5 years ago.

i assume we give aid..because if some disaster was to strike us...ppl would do the same for us. I sympathise with your sisters case, and having not been in the situation, maybe this is easier for me to say...but i mean no disrespect. Whether the govt gives aid to foreign countries is not gonna affect the assistance your sister or any one else gets. The govt spends billions everywhere assisting australians in need, but as citizens it is our job to be never satisfied and to want more...And im sure John Howard or whoever is in power in the future is more concrened with Australians than foreigners. I guess what im saying is comparing billions of dollars spent internally to a few million in aid is not fair.

[crannersEL]

"reducing fuel prices by converting our sugar cane to a conbustable substance"
Fuel is so expensive these days, and people are finding it hard to be able to pay for the fuel as peoples weekly pay stays the same.

[MustangNicko]

I voted all of them except for the last.

Even the prime minister deserves a nice wage. He would be one the hardest working blokes in aus.. regardless of whether he is agreed with or not. 7 days a week and is on call 24 hours a day.

There is definately a problem in Melbourne. I walk the streets of the city everyday and at least once i am approached for "loose change" for a "macca's burger". The integrity of the "loose change" is questionable though.

Pfft fixing the roads... it'd be nice...

cbf with the rest but they are all important except the last, although that'd be nice too

[EA2BA]

The next person you asks for change, offer to take them to the nearest macca's and actually buy them the burger, see how quick they turn around and so thats ok then. Most of the damn beggars are doing it to EARN money, not cause they need it. The real homeless have more respect then to ask for money.

[bindi]

You didn't mention FIXING OUR HOSPITAL/MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. I would choose that above everything else. Some homeless people are there because there is no place for them or mental health help available.

[MustangNicko]

Ive done that and they get confused lol This might sound cruel but i love seeing bums fight and bicker haha

[MustangNicko]

Originally Posted by bindi

You didn't mention FIXING OUR HOSPITAL/MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. I would choose that above everything else. Some homeless people are there because there is no place for them or mental health help available.

But the majority are there because of their own doing.

[EA2BA]

Originally Posted by MustangNicko

But the majority are there because of their own doing.

Correct. In Sydney there was actually a homeless person who was at one point in life a top uni proffessor, one day just snapped and went to live on the street, had bucket loads of money in the bank and everything, so just cause someone looks homeless, doesnt mean they dont think they are home

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Correct. In Sydney there was actually a homeless person who was at one point in life a top uni proffessor, one day just snapped and went to live on the street, had bucket loads of money in the bank and everything, so just cause someone looks homeless, doesnt mean they dont think they are home

He had a mental breakdown...He may have come good with early help...
Mental stuff is hard to comprihend for us sane people.. [Sane ???]

[TZENU]

One thing for certain the government shouldn't be spending our taxes on and that is their bloody holidays... or their retirments.... that the biggest load of bull i've have ever heard......

Then they have the balls to increase everything they possibly can to raise even more revenue!

[4.9 EF Futura]

I ticked every box. Money needs to be spread around.

You're not seriously complaining about the $5mio of aid for the kashmir earthquake are you?

That's like 0.009% of what the government spends on healthcare in australia... perspective people, perspective!

[PH47]

Originally Posted by EL_Advanti

i assume we give aid..because if some disaster was to strike us...ppl would do the same for us. I sympathise with your sisters case, and having not been in the situation, maybe this is easier for me to say...but i mean no disrespect. Whether the govt gives aid to foreign countries is not gonna affect the assistance your sister or any one else gets. The govt spends billions everywhere assisting australians in need, but as citizens it is our job to be never satisfied and to want more...And im sure John Howard or whoever is in power in the future is more concrened with Australians than foreigners. I guess what im saying is comparing billions of dollars spent internally to a few million in aid is not fair.

Thailand is going to come to our financial aid when we need it?

Iraq is going to send military support when we need it?

The US would EVER even give HALF a about anyone apart from themselves?

:yeees:

[Steffo]

I voted as follows...

1. Feeding our homeless - I'm sure that people don't become poor and homeless by choice. May sound harsh but if you've got issues in your own country like this, deal with them FIRST before giving handouts to other countrys, some which detest you to pieces anyway.

2. Saving our environment - Well, put quite simply, we need to do this or we all die. Incentive enough.

3. Fixing the roads - Horrible doesn't begin to describe some of the road's here in Sydney for example, and this is a first world country!

4. Reducing fuel prices by converting our sugar cane into a combustable substance - Good idea, I don't like paying nearly $1.50/L for petrol, as I'm sure most people don't.

5. Buying more military equipment - This is important. Sad as it may be, the world is becoming a more hostile place, lots of bad things being done everywhere. Best be prepared.

That's what I think our tax dollars should be spent on.

[Dodge]

maybe they should ask us how much is for other nations that would not ever dream of helping us . Look at the pakies, they undercut our export ect
how many disaters have we been thru with no forign aid ,
floods , droughts and earthquakes, its usually the salvos and small gov handout that come dribbling thur way after the damage is set

ok i respect ppls opinions that differ from mine...but Toasteron22s, are you for real. Australia spends about $2.5billion dollars a year on foreign aid through AUSAID. You know how much that sets u back a year $90 or about 1.75ish a week. U cant even buy a a cold bottle of coke for that price. Australian govt spends 1% on aid and nealry 40% on social security and welfare of total expenditure. And its not just about helping others...Ausaid in turn provides a lot of jobs for Australians here and abroad.

And you dont help ppl based on the fact that hey...now u owe me.. u help because its the right thing to do. Im not gonna help an odl lady cross the street and then go...well next week u gotta return the favour and mow my lawn. Dont know about you...but thats not how i was brought up.

And as far as your US comment goes...we arent really meant to discuss politics here, but here u say the US thinks of no one but itself...yet we have Australian soldiers in harms way because that very country asked us to help...so maybe ur fighting the wrong battle....

peace

russell

[Falcon Coupe]

I think you should have added : A income tax break for single income familys.

[Dodge]

there is lots of topice where we just have no say, Hospitals, schools, roads, town planning , single mums, old age, gas prices, bread prices , the list goes on... wait till the recession hits town soon, interist rate rises, jobs cut, ect . i see the gap between the rich and the poor increasing day by day

[Kapn_Kiwi]

You left out health and schooling, two big money pits that are, in my mind at least, high on the list of what tax dollars should be spent on.

[Bucknaked]

Government spends too much money on elite athletes. Cut the sporting funding, and put it towards important things like health and education

[parawolf]

We need to spend more on basic education. I was reading in the news paper that a year 12 high school graduate only has the same English skills as a Year 10 student in the 1960's.

Basic health care needs to be defined and established. At the moment it is way to vague, you can go to one doctor and get a bulk billing rate on some days at some times. My GP only bulk bills Monday to Friday until Midday. What hope does a double income family have of getting a sick child to a GP? Personally visits to the GP for anyone up to the age of say 16 should be bulk billed any time. Hell perhaps rather than a baby bonus, a family of a newborn should be allowed unlimited family visits to the age of 3 to avoid all sorts of communicable viruses and bacteria.

Whatever... Government are focusing on workers at the moment when they are the most stressed - of course they are going to feel victimised.

[Captain Stubing]

From the options given, I've gone for decreasing fuel prices.. that'll give you more fuel to practice driving on sometimes crappy roads, which will make a better driver!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Dunno bout other states, but QLD is financially ed at the moment with the whole Hospital issues.

Peter Beatie has ruined QLD as far as im concerned, too much as gone wrong and there have been too many cover ups in the last 18 months, he should walk as far as im concerned.

As for Howard handing out money, hes only covering his ***. I dont think any overseas country would go out giving us money overnight, we are seen as being a wealthy country who therefore doesn't need it. We have only been put in this position thanks to Howards money bank.

I reckon states should be finished up to, i think Australian being so small in population should be run as a whole, same rules, same taxes, same resources through out for everyone. The way it is the only people who are winning are the giants and the politicians coz they are all ing each other.

[bindi]

Originally Posted by parawolf

Basic health care needs to be defined and established. At the moment it is way to vague, you can go to one doctor and get a bulk billing rate on some days at some times. My GP only bulk bills Monday to Friday until Midday. What hope does a double income family have of getting a sick child to a GP? Personally visits to the GP for anyone up to the age of say 16 should be bulk billed any time. Hell perhaps rather than a baby bonus, a family of a newborn should be allowed unlimited family visits to the age of 3 to avoid all sorts of communicable viruses and bacteria.

You should put it in writing to the doctor in question.

Our clinic now has bulk billing for kids up to the age of 16 after patients put forward a few letters of suggestion.

They BB pensioners, but Health Care Card Holders still have to pay $36 even though they are on a low income (some dolies earn less than pensioners yet they have to pay). Regular dr visits set us back $48. Go for longer than 15 minutes and you have to take out a small loan.

[Dodge]

cheaper to go to a for 1/2 massage and come out feeln satisfied.

[parawolf]

Originally Posted by bindi

You should put it in writing to the doctor in question.

Our clinic now has bulk billing for kids up to the age of 16 after patients put forward a few letters of suggestion.

They BB pensioners, but Health Care Card Holders still have to pay $36 even though they are on a low income (some dolies earn less than pensioners yet they have to pay). Regular dr visits set us back $48. Go for longer than 15 minutes and you have to take out a small loan.

Yeah fair point about getting a suggestion list going. However i've only been to a GP twice in 5 years. The only other time i've been sick, I ended up in hosptial for 24 hours and off work for 5 days.

[donkeylover]

Originally Posted by crannersEL

"reducing fuel prices by converting our sugar cane to a conbustable substance"
Fuel is so expensive these days, and people are finding it hard to be able to pay for the fuel as peoples weekly pay stays the same.

fuel in england went up to 1pound a litre thats about $2.20c! your country is well off.You look after your own people well and put money back into community.You dont know how lucky you all are

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by donkeylover

fuel in england went up to 1pound a litre thats about $2.20c! your country is well off.You look after your own people well and put money back into community.You dont know how lucky you all are

Bloody well put!

[donkeylover]

why thank you young sir : I know everyone loves a good whinge but australia is one of the best places.Everyone would have something to moan about if they lived in iraq or worse usa.