What (or Who) is a "Working Family"???

[Hondo]

Spot on Dutchy

That's funny about school being cheaper than child care But true .....

Our 1 year old loves it at Child-Care - this week he didn't know mum had arrived and she got to watch him climbing all over the other 0-2 year olds and charging through the little girls who were sitting nicely like little ladies until the steam-train charged through laughing his head off

He loves interacting with other kids and we can't give him that experience at home

And sometimes we think he eats better there than he does at home! Lamb curry for lunch this week and custard & fruit for afternoon tea

[Dutchy]

Yep...Ive had to break the news on a Saturday that he isnt going to Child Care...he is shattered havng to spend the day with his parents!

Little things they learn like sleeping with noise all around, putting sun burn cream on themselves, wearing hats outside (and telling Mum and Dad off when they dont wear a hat outside!)

[Dirko]

Out of curiosity, as I don't use child care, but I take my son to playgroup every week. If your child is in child care, do you still use the playgroup
on a child care free day or is child care classified as such, and thus include pre-entry to kindy?

[Wedgie]

Don't be too quick to knock child-care. Remember the child-care benefit is means tested, the high income earners aren't taking Govt money if they use child care.

In our case, one day a week is great for mummy to get a break and function in the adult world. It's also great for the kids in building up their social skills from a young age. As well as aiding their education in my experience kids in child-care have better speech and social skills at the same age as the ones who have stayed at home.

It's also good for mummy's work who were very short staffed and needed her back, even 1 day per week.

Agree Hondo, both my kids have been in Child Care since they were 6 months old, pre kids I always thought "look at those bad parents that chuck their kids into child care" but how wrong was I....

> Its a great learning environment for the kids as well as developing great social skills from a young age
> Its great for the kids to have that seperation from their parents so they are not fully reliant on them
> Its great for the parents to have a break and for the Mum to go back to work - even if the $ arent an issue I believe Mums need to go back to work part time to have that separation where they are out of the house and thinking for a few hours about other things...it benefits the kids long term

We have some friends with the same aged kids and you can easily tell the ones who have been to child care and the ones who sit on their mum's hip all day....

Only thing that sh1ts me is the parents that pay $5- per day while we pay $45- per day

Funny thing happend when No. 1 started school a fortnight ago, the school he is going to discussed the financial commitment with us (about $1.5k pa) we said "no problem there, we have been paying $7k pa on Child care - we are saving money sending him to school!"

Agreed Dutchy, another bonus is their immune system soon builds up, my daughter is in Year 6 and my son in Year 3 and they've virtually had no time off school due to illness!

Im one of Kev's working families (for at least another 2 or 3 years) and I feel almost embarassed that I didn't vote for him seeing as my family will be 2k a year better off from July 1! Especially now they've found funding again for my dream job!

[mick]

After the budget it would seem that "working families" are people with combined incomes below $150K pa. Kev and his mates seem to have a bit of problems with their maths as they don't want "millionaires" to receive tax-payer funded assistance - fair enough, I agree - but has set the cut off point at $150K. Imagine living in Sydney or Melbourne with a $300 - $400K mortgage and 2 kids on only $150K? I can assure you that you will feel far from a millionaire. Even though my partner (by the way we are "millionaires" under the current government definition of that detested class), we consider "luxury cars" a waste of money (a commodore or a Falclon gets you just as quicky (legally) from A to B as a Porsche or BMW - cue Pysber ), we don't drink the girlie pre-mixed crap and we will retain private health because we are both over 50, we will get another $40-50 per week from the budget and were largely unaffected by it !!!! Thanks Wayne and Kev Why am I annoyed, you ask? because we are seeing typical socialist politics of envy and devisiveness. Rudd may well pay the price of his $150K "millionaires" in the marginal seats of the mortgage belts of Sydney and Melbourne.

[Wedgie]

After the budget it would seem that "working families" are people with combined incomes below $150K pa. Kev and his mates seem to have a bit of problems with their maths as they don't want "millionaires" to receive tax-payer funded assistance - fair enough, I agree - but has set the cut off point at $150K. Imagine living in Sydney or Melbourne with a $300 - $400K mortgage and 2 kids on only $150K? I can assure you that you will feel far from a millionaire. Even though my partner (by the way we are "millionaires" under the current government definition of that detested class), we consider "luxury cars" a waste of money (a commodore or a Falclon gets you just as quicky (legally) from A to B as a Porsche or BMW - cue Pysber ), we don't drink the girlie pre-mixed crap and we will retain private health because we are both over 50, we will get another $40-50 per week from the budget and were largely unaffected by it !!!! Thanks Wayne and Kev Why am I annoyed, you ask? because we are seeing typical socialist politics of envy and devisiveness. Rudd may well pay the price of his $150K "millionaires" in the marginal seats of the mortgage belts of Sydney and Melbourne.

150k is better than 100k like it was under the Howard government though!.
Only thing I lose on is the salary packaging of laptops, was going to get another one next year too!
Can't complain though as we got our car through salary packaging last May.

[The Big Shrek]

After the budget it would seem that "working families" are people with combined incomes below $150K pa. Kev and his mates seem to have a bit of problems with their maths as they don't want "millionaires" to receive tax-payer funded assistance - fair enough, I agree - but has set the cut off point at $150K. Imagine living in Sydney or Melbourne with a $300 - $400K mortgage and 2 kids on only $150K? I can assure you that you will feel far from a millionaire. Even though my partner (by the way we are "millionaires" under the current government definition of that detested class), we consider "luxury cars" a waste of money (a commodore or a Falclon gets you just as quicky (legally) from A to B as a Porsche or BMW - cue Pysber ), we don't drink the girlie pre-mixed crap and we will retain private health because we are both over 50, we will get another $40-50 per week from the budget and were largely unaffected by it !!!! Thanks Wayne and Kev Why am I annoyed, you ask? because we are seeing typical socialist politics of envy and devisiveness. Rudd may well pay the price of his $150K "millionaires" in the marginal seats of the mortgage belts of Sydney and Melbourne.

Mate, a millionaire is someone who is worth one million dollars. Stop talking crap. Look at the sooks on the front page of The Advertiser. Poor them, they had to pay for their 4WD and private school for their two kids. Talk to me when you have a real problem.

[Wedgie]

After the budget it would seem that "working families" are people with combined incomes below $150K pa. Kev and his mates seem to have a bit of problems with their maths as they don't want "millionaires" to receive tax-payer funded assistance - fair enough, I agree - but has set the cut off point at $150K. Imagine living in Sydney or Melbourne with a $300 - $400K mortgage and 2 kids on only $150K? I can assure you that you will feel far from a millionaire. Even though my partner (by the way we are "millionaires" under the current government definition of that detested class), we consider "luxury cars" a waste of money (a commodore or a Falclon gets you just as quicky (legally) from A to B as a Porsche or BMW - cue Pysber ), we don't drink the girlie pre-mixed crap and we will retain private health because we are both over 50, we will get another $40-50 per week from the budget and were largely unaffected by it !!!! Thanks Wayne and Kev Why am I annoyed, you ask? because we are seeing typical socialist politics of envy and devisiveness. Rudd may well pay the price of his $150K "millionaires" in the marginal seats of the mortgage belts of Sydney and Melbourne.

Mate, a millionaire is someone who is worth one million dollars. Stop talking crap. Look at the sooks on the front page of The Advertiser. Poor them, they had to pay for their 4WD and private school for their two kids. Talk to me when you have a real problem.

Agreed, and they live in a 'seaside' suburb, poor dears!Those 4WDs come in real handy in the beaten up tracks around Henley Beach:roll:

[Dutchy]

actually very good point about sickness wedgie, my son in his first 6 months at Child Care copped everything and was home more than Child Care but now he has just turned 5 and has not had anything more than a slight cough for over 3 years now, he has the best imune system Ive ever seen!

[smac]

I have spoken to a couple of quacks about that and they all reckon it's a load of old cobblers.

Anecdotal evidence suggests there is something in it - my eldest 2 went through all the colds, flus, chicken pox etc etc by the time they were 4, now are healthy as buggery. The littlest smac at 2 is just going through the same thing, hopefully with the same long term results.

[mick]

BS and Wedgie, you are already showing symptoms of the politics of envy promoted by this government. Perhaps those people have worked hard for what they've got? 4WD and seaside suburb. Let's make everyone equal and live in the socialist uptopia like North Korea and Zimbabwe Quite frankly I don't give a shit, I'm well enough off now to almost afford to be a socialist and vote labor because I am confident I will be able to weather the economic bad times they will inevitably create

[Dirko]

I have spoken to a couple of quacks about that and they all reckon it's a load of old cobblers.

Anecdotal evidence suggests there is something in it - my eldest 2 went through all the colds, flus, chicken pox etc etc by the time they were 4, now are healthy as buggery. The littlest smac at 2 is just going through the same thing, hopefully with the same long term results.

True, plus make sure the kids drink water and eat the veggies (mine are addicted to Broccoli )...

Nothing wrong with eating "home made pies" either !!

[once_were_warriors]

Well all this fear about living in a socialist country , it has been and always will be a socialist country.

Drought relief, Welfare payments,Pensions,Infrastructure,baby bonus,medicare ........ , all socialist related items.

If we didn't have socialism every little town in the country would be without electricity,water,telephones,roads , because the expenditure invested wouldn't justify the financial returns.

Just accept it and don't worry about what you don't get compared with others because that definitely is Envy

[mick]

Well all this fear about living in a socialist country , it has been and always will be a socialist country.

Drought relief, Welfare payments,Pensions,Infrastructure,baby bonus,medicare ........ , all socialist related items.

If we didn't have socialism every little town in the country would be without electricity,water,telephones,roads , because the expenditure invested wouldn't justify the financial returns.

Just accept it and don't worry about what you don't get compared with others because that definitely is Envy

I don't have a problem with social policies to help those in need. What I object to is the idea that ALL families with a taxable income above $150K are wealthy, and the talk by Swan and others of "millionaires" getting social welfare benefits, why didn't they set the cut - off for means testing at 1 Million rather than 15% of that figure

[Psyber]

After the budget it would seem that "working families" are people with combined incomes below $150K pa. Kev and his mates seem to have a bit of problems with their maths as they don't want "millionaires" to receive tax-payer funded assistance - fair enough, I agree - but has set the cut off point at $150K. Imagine living in Sydney or Melbourne with a $300 - $400K mortgage and 2 kids on only $150K? I can assure you that you will feel far from a millionaire. Even though my partner (by the way we are "millionaires" under the current government definition of that detested class), we consider "luxury cars" a waste of money (a commodore or a Falclon gets you just as quicky (legally) from A to B as a Porsche or BMW - cue Pysber ), we don't drink the girlie pre-mixed crap and we will retain private health because we are both over 50, we will get another $40-50 per week from the budget and were largely unaffected by it !!!! Thanks Wayne and Kev Why am I annoyed, you ask? because we are seeing typical socialist politics of envy and devisiveness. Rudd may well pay the price of his $150K "millionaires" in the marginal seats of the mortgage belts of Sydney and Melbourne.

Hi Mick, I've been away touring northern SA! The 12 year old Audi - bought 2nd-hand - didn't miss a beat in 2000 Km around the Barossa, Gilbert, and Clare Valleys, and across to Moonta.

For the last 3 years we have ben heavily investing in our own "Future Fund" and that has left us living in Melbourne with a $350K mortgage on a combined taxable income of $85K, and we have not been struggling. So, I don't quite know what the government is on about. Admittedly, we don't have the "2 kids" - my step-daughter is adult and living in Newcastle with her boyfriend. I agree with your comments about "typical socialist politics of envy and devisiveness." It has been around before.

I've never owned a BMW, but I have driven a few, and my last Porsche was sold 12 years ago.

PS: Love "Falclon" - it reminds me of the very old car joke about "Old'ns" "Flaweds" and "Violents" - from pre-Mitsubishi days.

[once_were_warriors]

Well all this fear about living in a socialist country , it has been and always will be a socialist country.

Drought relief, Welfare payments,Pensions,Infrastructure,baby bonus,medicare ........ , all socialist related items.

If we didn't have socialism every little town in the country would be without electricity,water,telephones,roads , because the expenditure invested wouldn't justify the financial returns.

Just accept it and don't worry about what you don't get compared with others because that definitely is Envy

I don't have a problem with social policies to help those in need. What I object to is the idea that ALL families with a taxable income above $150K are wealthy, and the talk by Swan and others of "millionaires" getting social welfare benefits, why didn't they set the cut - off for means testing at 1 Million rather than 15% of that figure

Agree 150K shouldn't be classed as wealthy as i don't consider myself wealthy , but is definitely on the right hand side of the bell curve.
The limit the government chose was obviously based on the tax chart.
I have no problem with process they have gone through in defining the limit and correct me if Im wrong but I believe the income is asessed 6 months post birth, which with most familys one parent is at home with the child and therefore combined income would be significantly reduced.
We all pay our taxes to provide services to the community, be they welfare or infrastructure etc. Theres a limit to the pot of gold available and a government decides what they believe is sustainable I don't see this as "politics of envy" more politics of reason.
I would like to see all the money that is now saved from limiting the bonus given to the ones that really struggle and sacrifice their lives for their loved ones - The Carers, to me they are the ones that deserve additional support.

[redden whites]

Wait until next year when we rip into capital gains ....my heart bleeds

[Psyber]

Wait until next year when we rip into capital gains ....my heart bleeds

That's why the smart money is being moved out of reach of their clutching little claws as we post - we know what "tax review" means!

[The Big Shrek]

Look girls, if we agree that Kerry Packer shouldn't get $5k for producing pratts like James then the baby bonus must be means tested. There is only so much money to be handed out and you have to draw the line somewhere. $150k a year may not be exceedingly rich, but if you're earning that much I'm sure the money you would have got could be better spent elsewhere.

[mick]

Wait until next year when we rip into capital gains ....my heart bleeds

and destroy the economy as you always do. ALP = economic poison