Public or private and why??

**~Bec~** · 30-06-2012 20:41

I went public with both babies. I am fundamentally opposed to PHI so I don't have it.

**VicPark** · 30-06-2012 20:51

Originally Posted by BigRedV

Don't really know what you mean? Most people are hardworking. Newstart ($490 a fortnight) is hardly some luxurious lifestyle that people aspire to.

I'm not saying newstart provides a luxurious lifestyle. I'm saying if there is not much of a financial gap between those that study/work hard and those that don't work and/or don't make smart life choices (due to government benefits, healthcare rebates etc)... There is less incentive for people to study work-hard. Which will in turn mean less economic turnover and tax revenue and we'll all be in the crapper then.

**duckduckgoose** · 30-06-2012 20:54

Went private for DS as I was so worried something would go wrong. I liked having lots of scans, my own OB to ask a million questions of, etc. and I liked the 5 day hospital stay in my own private room etc.

This time I am going public and I couldn't be happier. I am more aware of intervention rates in public vs private and love my public hospital's philosophy that birth is a natural event. I am signed up for a program where I get one midwife plus a backup for my entire pregnancy and birth and then she comes to visit me at home for 10-14 days after the birth. I can only stay at hospital for 4-12 hours after the birth but as this is my second bub that suits me down to the ground.

I also like not having so many scans this time - I think it's better for bub. And I am saving thousands of $$.

**BigRedV** · 30-06-2012 21:02

Originally Posted by VicPark

I'm not saying newstart provides a luxurious lifestyle. I'm saying if there is not much of a financial gap between those that study/work hard and those that don't work and/or don't make smart life choices (due to government benefits, healthcare rebates etc)... There is less incentive for people to study work-hard. Which will in turn mean less economic turnover and tax revenue and we'll all be in the crapper then.

I think there is a huge gap between what you earn on newstart and what you can earn even at mcdonald's. We've had unemployment benefits for a long time in this country, yet most people want to work, and vast majority do work. I hardly think the people who are now missing out on the rebate, or are having their rebate reduced are going to trade in their current life for a life on government benefits @ 25k a year

**VicPark** · 30-06-2012 21:53

Originally Posted by BigRedV

I think there is a huge gap between what you earn on newstart and what you can earn even at mcdonald's. We've had unemployment benefits for a long time in this country, yet most people want to work, and vast majority do work. I hardly think the people who are now missing out on the rebate, or are having their rebate reduced are going to trade in their current life for a life on government benefits @ 25k a year

I agree. But it may make them think twice about further study or going for that promotion (when a payrise could mean you lose access to certain benefits).

**grumpysmurf** · 30-06-2012 23:29

private.
because i received ****ty and negligent care the first three pregnancies and births on the public system.
received outstanding care the 4th time in a private hospital.

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**Kimberleygal1** · 01-07-2012 11:04

Originally Posted by BigRedV

Well I happen to live in Australia's most expensive city, and the 7th most expensive city in the world. I live 5 minutes from the beach and 20 minutes drive from the city, 15 minutes by train. Our mortgage is almost $1000 a week, but we choose to live here! I think if $50 a month is going to break the budget, then savings need to be made elsewhere. Interests rates have gone down lately, so there is a good monthly savings there.

So many people would love to be able to afford phi, but they can't.

Kimberleygal, if your rebate is reduced to 10%, then that means your household income is between $194k and $260k, which is not poor by any stretch of the imagination. Many people would consider that rich and would love to be earning even a fraction of that. Again, some people can't even afford phi.

In reality we certainly aren't that well off because we pay $70,000 in tax per year between us. If we had been earning the money we do for many years we would be wealthy because we would have had the time to set ourselves up but not so in our situation. My dh was out of work for a few years prior to being in the position he is in now so we were battlers bigtime, all we have done in the few years he has been on a descent wage is "catch up" especially when I have had to stop work to have the children in between. But we are just about there, another year and yes... we could be classed as wealthy!
Just because people appear to be on good earnings the tax equation is not considered by many but it should be! Just because one earns a high amount doesn't mean they should be hit hard every time and forced to pay more for things everytime because you earn more but that's exactly what happens and it's unfair!

**Nemmi** · 01-07-2012 11:12

Originally Posted by VicPark

I'm not saying newstart provides a luxurious lifestyle. I'm saying if there is not much of a financial gap between those that study/work hard and those that don't work and/or don't make smart life choices (due to government benefits, healthcare rebates etc)... There is less incentive for people to study work-hard. Which will in turn mean less economic turnover and tax revenue and we'll all be in the crapper then.

Seriously?

On newstart my MAX per FORTNIGHT was 460$ .

I could not get a job, despite trying constantly.

Partnered with my sons father before we had children he could earn that per week, or per fortnight he could earn double that.

If he was working minimum mcdonalds hours (9) he would earn what i would have gotten but unless youre a fabulously sh!t worker you get more than 9 hours.
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**VicPark** · 01-07-2012 11:22

Originally Posted by Kimberleygal1

In reality we certainly aren't that well off because we pay $70,000 in tax per year between us. If we had been earning the money we do for many years we would be wealthy because we would have had the time to set ourselves up but not so in our situation. My dh was out of work for a few years prior to being in the position he is in now so we were battlers bigtime, all we have done in the few years he has been on a descent wage is "catch up" especially when I have had to stop work to have the children in between. But we are just about there, another year and yes... we could be classed as wealthy!
Just because people appear to be on good earnings the tax equation is not considered by many but it should be! Just because one earns a high amount doesn't mean they should be hit hard every time and forced to pay more for things everytime because you earn more but that's exactly what happens and it's unfair!

Don't even try Kimberly. It's appears to be a BubHub rule that you can't whinge about money unless you're on centrelink benefits.

**VicPark** · 01-07-2012 11:25

Originally Posted by Nemmi

Seriously?

On newstart my MAX per FORTNIGHT was 460$ .

I could not get a job, despite trying constantly.

Partnered with my sons father before we had children he could earn that per week, or per fortnight he could earn double that.

If he was working minimum mcdonalds hours (9) he would earn what i would have gotten but unless youre a fabulously sh!t worker you get more than 9 hours.
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Was a McDonald job not available?

I agree new start is hard but the middle class is getting increasingly screwed with the carbon tax and changes to healthcare rebates.