ESSP Discrimination of the highest order

[Dutchy]

The entire policy benefits those who need it most. I don't necessarily agree with handouts of this nature, but it will help a lot of people in low income demographics who struggle at this time of year.

Not all low income families are dole bludging, drug addicts ya know

agree and Ive said that, but why should hard working families miss out?

[The Ash Man]

The entire policy benefits those who need it most. I don't necessarily agree with handouts of this nature, but it will help a lot of people in low income demographics who struggle at this time of year.

Not all low income families are dole bludging, drug addicts ya know

Finally some sense in this thread.

Im not disputing that
But as in all things the minority spoil it for the majority
I beleive that a % of the handout should be given in "vouchers" for utilities and such so at least some of the money (for the minority) is going where it is intended

[The Ash Man]

The entire policy benefits those who need it most. I don't necessarily agree with handouts of this nature, but it will help a lot of people in low income demographics who struggle at this time of year.

Not all low income families are dole bludging, drug addicts ya know

agree and Ive said that, but why should hard working families miss out?

Most over-used term in the past 18 months!
Agree totally with you Dutchy

[Dutchy]

AS it is my wife could stay at home and not work and get the government handouts and we would be better off financially, BUT we choose to work hard, pay $50- per day childcare with little govt help...and what do we cop? Others getiing the $$$$

[Felch]

AS it is my wife could stay at home and not work and get the government handouts and we would be better off financially, BUT we choose to work hard, pay $50- per day childcare with little govt help...and what do we cop? Others getiing the $$$$

Mate, i am in the same boat. My wife is currently 3 months into maternity leave at the moment, and we will be financially worse off if/when she decides to go back to work. Her not working at the moment is the only reason we are eligible for this latest government handout.

[redden whites]

The pokie barons will be getting a Xmas bonus from this latest bout of government generosity

absolutely Mick, if the opposition was smart they would track the increase Pokie revenue in the week it is paid.

on-line betting accounts too????

[Dirko]

AS it is my wife could stay at home and not work and get the government handouts and we would be better off financially, BUT we choose to work hard, pay $50- per day childcare with little govt help...and what do we cop? Others getiing the $$$$

Or as we did, we chose to have a stay at home parent, which means financially we're worse off, compared to both of us working when child care costs would be negligible as we'd both be pulling in the cash, but we chose for our kids to be raised at home.

And NO I don't need Government hand outs, but the fact is, if we don't claim them we end up getting a lump sum at tax time.

[Dutchy]

AS it is my wife could stay at home and not work and get the government handouts and we would be better off financially, BUT we choose to work hard, pay $50- per day childcare with little govt help...and what do we cop? Others getiing the $$$$

Or as we did, we chose to have a stay at home parent, which means financially we're worse off, compared to both of us working when child care costs would be negligible as we'd both be pulling in the cash, but we chose for our kids to be raised at home.

And NO I don't need Government hand outs, but the fact is, if we don't claim them we end up getting a lump sum at tax time.

and thats fine....each to their own, our choice is for my wife to work part time as a break from the kids which is important for both parties...but how the govenment can give $$ to one kid yet the next door neighbour gets nothing is beyond me

> Some kids that go to my sons child care have stay at home Mums that need a day or 2 off each week therefore they send them and after govt subsidies they pay out of pocket $5.00 per day
> Also self employed people who dont fully claim tax, will get this despite their real earnings being much higher than the ATO are aware of
> Im now determined to find a few tax breaks between now and the end of the year which may reduce our income enough to claim this retrospectively...

[Dutchy]

The pokie barons will be getting a Xmas bonus from this latest bout of government generosity

absolutely Mick, if the opposition was smart they would track the increase Pokie revenue in the week it is paid.

on-line betting accounts too????

Possibly, but facts show most of it goes down the throat of a pokies which payout signficantly less than Sports betting....also you can win on Sports betting long term, you cant on pokies,,,fact

[Punk Rooster]

Pfft!

single white females are about the only ones that got diddly out of the whole deal.

Every man and his dog is getting bonuses from the government... not this little black duck

single white males are made to pay the bonus...

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Woo-hoo !!! I have 3 kids - thats $3k !!!

Look out Harvey Norman, here i come...

PS I am joking...

That's just plain irresponsible, not about to waste Punkys generous financial gesture so I'm putting mine on red.

[JK]

Woo-hoo !!! I have 3 kids - thats $3k !!!

Look out Harvey Norman, here i come...

PS I am joking...

That's just plain irresponsible, not about to waste Punkys generous financial gesture so I'm putting mine on red.

Merlot or Shiraz?

[Brad]

It shall be interesting times when this bonus is paid.....

[Q.]

The entire policy benefits those who need it most. I don't necessarily agree with handouts of this nature, but it will help a lot of people in low income demographics who struggle at this time of year.

Not all low income families are dole bludging, drug addicts ya know

agree and Ive said that, but why should hard working families miss out?

I imagine raising a family is hard work for most, but I guess they have to draw a line somewhere to define 'low-income'. Perhaps the criteria used means this line is higher than it should be.

It would be nice if all families were equal but it's not the case Dutchy. There'll be plenty of families who struggle to put on a spread this Christmas [cue violin ].

[Dutchy]

The entire policy benefits those who need it most. I don't necessarily agree with handouts of this nature, but it will help a lot of people in low income demographics who struggle at this time of year.

Not all low income families are dole bludging, drug addicts ya know

agree and Ive said that, but why should hard working families miss out?

I imagine raising a family is hard work for most, but I guess they have to draw a line somewhere to define 'low-income'. Perhaps the criteria used means this line is higher than it should be.

It would be nice if all families were equal but it's not the case Dutchy. There'll be plenty of families who struggle to put on a spread this Christmas [cue violin ].

No means test for the Baby Bonus however? whats the difference here.....also if they are only going to pay this to families that receive government assistance already why dont they drip feed it over a 12 month period? Paying a lump sum is nothing more than a vote grabbing exercise, not responsible at all....

[Dirko]

Paying a lump sum is nothing more than a vote grabbing exercise, not responsible at all....

Correct. To give a boost to the economy...BULLSHIT. Nothing more then a feel good ploy by the Government that'll get blown by a huge amount of families as does the baby bonus.

[Q.]

The entire policy benefits those who need it most. I don't necessarily agree with handouts of this nature, but it will help a lot of people in low income demographics who struggle at this time of year.

Not all low income families are dole bludging, drug addicts ya know

agree and Ive said that, but why should hard working families miss out?

I imagine raising a family is hard work for most, but I guess they have to draw a line somewhere to define 'low-income'. Perhaps the criteria used means this line is higher than it should be.

It would be nice if all families were equal but it's not the case Dutchy. There'll be plenty of families who struggle to put on a spread this Christmas [cue violin ].

No means test for the Baby Bonus however? whats the difference here.....also if they are only going to pay this to families that receive government assistance already why dont they drip feed it over a 12 month period? Paying a lump sum is nothing more than a vote grabbing exercise, not responsible at all....

Yep, I agree with you. And if it isn't a vote grabbing exercise, then at the very least it is a reactionary policy, which is poor politics.

[mick]

Yes couldn't agree more. It's ironic that if Australia does avoid recession it will be more to do with the strong economic basis left to them by the previous government and not their own doing. One has to question the competancy of the reserve bank, since they raised interest rates in the last half of 2007 and early 2009 most contraversally during the 07 election campaign. Surely they must have had an inkling of what was going to unfold? A Four Corners program from more than 18 months ago accurately predicted this crisis. Unfortunately for Australia the person most qualified to handle this crisis is sitting on the back benches in opposition.

[MagicKiwi]

That's just plain irresponsible, not about to waste Punkys generous financial gesture so I'm putting mine on red.

And mine and Silent Bob's generosity too Sheik!
All you people breeding (sigh!).

[GWW]

I reckon it makes more sense to give it to the people that you know are going to spend it and boost the economy, than give it to someone at a higher income level who is likely to save/invest it.