Suggestion for the Flood Levy

[dedja]

So what's the answer Squawk? ... what would you do if you were pulling the levers?

[Dirko]

They're working it out on individual income yeah ?

So someone could earn 60 k, and their wife who doesn't work, they have to pay, yet a couple who live together and earn say 45 k each, don't have to pay yet the combined household income is higher

Makes sense.

[southee]

They're working it out on individual income yeah ?

So someone could earn 60 k, and their wife who doesn't work, they have to pay, yet a couple who live together and earn say 45 k each, don't have to pay yet the combined household income is higher

Makes sense.

Yep...real intelligent politics right there!!!

[dedja]

Yep, works the same as income tax ...

[Dirko]

Yep, works the same as income tax ...

What's income tax

[dedja]

something that noobs pay ...

[redandblack]

All this over $50 for one year if you're on $60K net a year, to help infrastructure in the flood-hit areas.?

Our goodwill seems like it was only skin deep

[dedja]

Da Comrade ...

[Darth Vader]

what happens if Adam Bant, Tony Windsor and that drop kick Oakeshot don't go for the vote on this levy caper? Does Gillard do a backflip or will she too get boned by the party machine.

[southee]

what happens if Adam Bant, Tony Windsor and that drop kick Oakeshot don't go for the vote on this levy caper? Does Gillard do a backflip or will she too get boned by the party machine.

I am sure the knifes are getting sharpened

[dedja]

what happens if Adam Bant, Tony Windsor and that drop kick Oakeshot don't go for the vote on this levy caper?

The Mad Monk has an orgasm ...

[Darth Vader]

I'm terrified at the prospect of Midnight Oil or someone else of equal incompetence administering this huge stash of cash with the same efficiency they stuck pink bats in some roofs

[southee]

I'm terrified at the prospect of Midnight Oil or someone else of equal incompetence administering this huge stash of cash with the same efficiency they stuck pink bats in some roofs

....or the school building debacle.

[Squawk]

So what's the answer Squawk? ... what would you do if you were pulling the levers?

Find the money wholly from the Cwlth coffers, which are stocked up by taxpayers.

The point is that the Cwlth hasnt actually made a decision that invokes some pain for itself. The outcome of the initiatives as announced is budget neutral for the Cwlth - life goes on as normal.

I doubt this will be the end of things as Qld will need some serious extra money to pay its own $5b bill which is over and above what was announced yesterday. I'm also waiting to see if the Inquiry identifies that mismanagement of the Wivenhoe Dam means that in essence, the Qld govt was responsible for flooding Ipswich and Brisbane. If that happens, everyone who was uninsured will prob take a class action against the Crown (Qld) and insurance companies would line up to to recover payments made (eg Suncorp). This could go on for 10+ years, not unlike the Ash Wednesday 83 fires when powerlines were the cause.

I guess I'd like to see the Cwlth scrap a few big ticket items of their own and implement an efficiency dividend on departments. Compare their response to the Sustainable Budget Commission process here which included outcomes scrapping programs, wage freezes and public service cuts. The Feds are not doing any of that. As I said earlier - in a couple of weeks Julia and co will find money to bankroll promises for the NSW election.

I also think there is some merit in allowing Appeal donors to offset their donations against the flood levy. Dont underestimate the costs already borne by a lot of volunteers also. The way this is all structured means that everyone pays something at least once, but in many cases they are paying more than once.

There are other problems as well with the distribution of money, but I may say more about that later.

[Leaping Lindner]

I'm more than happy to pay my share of the levy. Mainly because it's pissing of Abbott and Joyce so much. You've got to love Barnaby Joyce. He won't support a levy that helps his fellow Queenslanders. The term barking mad doesn't seem to him justice.

[mick]

I'm glad I held off donating as it seems I'll be making a compulsory "donation"......no problem QLD AND Vic need help to rebuild. I just hope it will be spent prudently, but with the track record of this government......who knows? Some cynics say the government is preserving it's war chest for the next election.

[redandblack]

Nobody has mentioned the massive cuts to expenditure also announced.

I repeat, though, all this abuse and party-line toeing for 96 cents a week for a year to help Queensland.

Who's playing politics?

[Psyber]

Everybody is playing some sort of game all the time in politics and bureaucracy.
The Queensland government still owe me a substantial amount of money for my two days up there in May 2009 to give evidence in a Committal Hearing in a murder case.
I've given up pestering the Minister via the department as it keeps getting dealt with by underlings who think the expenses payment they've made was the lot.
They either don't read or don't grasp my replies.

My latest letter has gone to his Electoral Office, and I've advised my next will be to the Qld opposition.

[southee]

what happens if Adam Bant, Tony Windsor and that drop kick Oakeshot don't go for the vote on this levy caper? Does Gillard do a backflip or will she too get boned by the party machine.

I am sure the knifes are getting sharpened

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/alps-revo ... 5996550410

Sharper than I thought!!!!

Even her own are ready for the kill

[redandblack]

"Ready for the kill"

Don't get too excited, southee.

I'll ask you and the other mathematically challenged opponents of this levy a question. Tony Abbott proposed a (wait for it) - levy, to pay for his parental leave scheme in his election campaign.

Did any of you disagree with this and say so on here, or do you think a levy for an election campaign promise is OK, but for flood destroyed infrastructure is not?

(Thanks to Laurie Oakes for his article on this).

I'll look forward to an answer, as I haven't had an answer to my previous points.

PS: Psyber, I'm not sure what relevance your witness fee has to this debate, but I bet the Queensland Government is shaking in its boots and will divert all resources away from the flood crisis into dealing with your fee situation