Merged:Budget surplus and New Budget Thingy

[juliek]

I've just heard that there is a budget surplus of 17 billion $!!.
I wonder how the government is going to blow it this time. Personally I think they need to spend it on education and health, or a discount on petrol.
I'm think it will go something more like this......a big chunk will go on defence(which means the war in Iraq) then they will make some token effort towards childcare places and rebates and there will probably be some b.s. about road upgrades.

What do you all think?

[Pippi Longstocking]

then they will make some token effort towards childcare places and rebates

I suspect you are right. I think that the current government will be willing to spend the money on things that have the potential to bring more wealth back to them and getting mums out working will do just that.
I think that social justice issues will once again be overlooked and the gap between rich and poor will continue to grow. Our health system will be left in crisis. It will still be nigh on impossible to afford a tertiary education. Indigenous Australians will still be left in third world conditions. Our elderly people will be left at home suffering for longer until a place becomes available at a crowded and understaffed old folks home.

People don't matter. Only those that can help themselves have opportunities. We have no compassion, no empathy and none of that famous Aussie spirit of giving each other a hand....Gah, we have become America!

[MammaMia]

Personally, I'm grateful to hear the words "surplus" and "services".

To be much preferred than hearing "deficit" and "cut backs."

And given our nation's level of personal debt, including credit cards, that is something not to be ignored.

That is the extent of my arm chair wisdom and critiquing for today.

I'll leave the rest of the BH financial and political analysts to comment now.

[Pippi Longstocking]

The problem though MammaMia is that the reason we aren't hearing the words "deficit" and "cut backs." is because they are being said in homes like mine - ie. "kids, we have a severe money deficit this week and we are going to have to make cut backs on our eating".

Believe me, there will still be quite a bit of deficits and cutting back, regardless of the budget surplus.

[cookie]

I am nearly sure the government will play the good samaratan and donate an extreamly large amount of money overseas.
Not that I mind that but when there are people in this country like all of us who do find it hard to keep food on the table petrol in our cars home loan payments up to date and need I go on.
unfortunatly our government seem to think we are all surviving just nicely....on not much. I could think of a lot of practical things they could spend the "surplus" on for a start in our area alone the medical system is up to #*#@.
But what the hell the govenment think it is wise to invest the money lets see how long it is before we see news headlines on how the poor little polititions got the country ripped off!

[IAdoreYou]

I'm a SAHM ( 1st priority here is family ) hearing of tax cuts is what we want here .. with increased interest rates and petrol prices .. with hubbies wage we fall in the bracket of getting up to $30 a week! In our budget thats an xtra $120 a month - minus xtra interest rate $30 - minus xtra petrol a mth $20 .. leaves us to do what we please $70!!! thats quite alot for us ..

Happy Camper Costello

[JATS]

I believe they should do something about fuel, that would lower the cost of living for all of us in so many ways!

[Goosie22]

What about paying some off the half-a-trillion dollars in Foriegn Debt, that is a black cloud hanging over our beloved low interest rates.

Debt free tell me another one.

[rynosmum]

I watched the Paul Keating interview on TV last night where he referred to the foreign debt as well. Interestingly enough, he also didn't seem to have any ideas on how to get rid of it.

On the budget though, I'm pleased to see taxcuts for most and less tax for people living off their superannuation. More childcare benefits and a higher salary cutoff before Family Assistance gets affected.

To me, these are beneficial on a day to day basis. How we solve the massive debt issue though Goosie, I'm not sure that anyone knows how to tackle that one...and that's pretty scary stuff.

[pegasus]

The cuts to tax on Super are great. The reason behind this is that when we get to retirement age, I am absolutely sure that there will be no pensions - our economy just can't support it, so I'm working on getting my super underway as best I can now.