Friday, April 24, 2015
Superannuation...Politicians...Social Injustice...
Let me preface this blog with the following...I vote Liberal but think that what the current Liberal Federal Government tried to do in it's first budget was inequitable and disgraceful. In essence, they widened the social divide by trying to bludgeon those that can least afford it with all manner of changes to social security, welfare payments...in fact they appeared to be on a mission to screw every last cent out of the very poorest.
But now I'm confused...let me explain.
Last night, April 23, 2015 on the ABC Lateline programme, a very confident, self assured Labor Party Politician who goes by the name of Chris Bowen and is Opposition Treasury Spokesman announced the following:
When and if Labor get to power, they will be socially responsible, (unlike the Liberals) and rule Australia fairly and in the interests of everyone. This fairness was already on display, (he inferred), because the Labor Party in opposition would announce future policies well in advance of the next election...one of these policies related to Superannuation.
Mr Bowen stated:
1-For those still in the workforce and who earn more than $280,000.00 per annum, Super contributions would be taxed at 30% as opposed to the current rate of 15%. Now I know that $280 grand a year is a lot of money...but this Labor initiative smacks of Tall Poppy Syndrome. A person who has the skills, qualifications etc to earn that much must be doing something pretty right...and heaven forbid may even employ people just like I did before I retired.
To me, that is an honorable thing to do plus it helps the economy and when I last looked, small businesses employed around 80% of the Australian workforce. It's probably more than 80% now, and on the rise, as large multi-nationals are deserting Australia like rats off a sinking ship...and they're not paying their fair share of taxes to our tax man.
Shouldn't the equation be that if you earn those sorts of dollars, the tax man is already getting his fair share of taxes without hitting these people up for higher taxes on their Super...and wasn't compulsory Super introduced to force people to lock money away for their retirement. In effect, so that less people would be reliant on the public purse.
It looks a lot like the Libs in reverse...and so the Social Divide will continue to get even wider!
The second magical policy mooted by our Mr Bowen is:
2-For those in retirement mode who have accrued enough to be self funded, (that's my wife and I), if the Fund earns more than $70,000.00 per year, it will be taxed at 15%...that's in spite of us already having paid large amounts of tax and employing people who also paid tax.
Once again, this smacks of the Tall Poppy Syndrome...and it stinks to high heaven.
But one thing bothers me more than anything else...Mr Chris Bowen not once mentioned the situation with politicians' Super...or as it's known...Retirement Allowance. I don't know the exact figures, but Politicians must be a special breed in this society of ours...the "Super" is funded from the public purse, they can get at it after 12 years as a member of Parliament, it's indexed for life and the list goes on.
Social Equity would to me suggest that their Super be handled and structured in exactly the same way as everybody elses...or am I just living in a place called Dream Land.
Oh, and one last thing, the taxes raised from these brilliant new ideas were of the order of $12 billion over 10 years...that's 1.2 billion dollars a year...whoopee!
Alan Kohler, a well respected finance commentator has stated that the biggest problem with the Super system in Australia is that $20 billion per year...(that's per year) is scraped off the top by those involved in running Super Funds and Financial Advisors. And on top of this, the Taxman doesn't have a real good handle on just how much tax is being raised even under the current regime.
So there lies my problem...you work hard...you pay your taxes...you save for retirement and you think you've done the right thing.
Then along comes a Politician!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Queensland...sunny one day...
Shot of Mally in the hinterland of Cairns...there's a waterfall somewhere there in the background and that ain't spray from it.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Pics of Heidi & Gary at Port Dougles
Some pics of our friends in their apartment at Port Douglas, (we went home to a caravan if you remember).
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Ankle bracelet...
I'll tell you about the ankle bracelet in a minute but first there's a few items I need to clear up.
1-If any Queenslander ever goes on about how great the weather is up here tell 'em they're dreamin'. Up until Townsville the weather has been crap all the way down the coast. Which is a tad disappointing when you come north in the belief there's paradise awaiting and it's their bloody dry season.
2-We just worked out why there seem to be less people to talk to...it's because heaps of 'em are from overseas, (mainly Dutch and German) and they don't get the rules. And those rules are:
-always say good morning in the dunny block even if you have a mouth full of toothpaste
-always say gidday no matter who it is, (except if you know they're German or Dutch)
-always talk to the guy next door even if he only wants to tell you about his bloody turbo charged diesel that gets 14.94 litres per 100 kilometres and that's better than the guy he talked to at the last caravan park who only gets 17.6 and he paid $107,000 for his series 200 Toyota bloody Landcruiser and my guy picked up a bargain and only paid $35,000 for his series 100 Toyota bloody Landcruiser.
3-If you ever see photos of blue skies, white sand and blue water...that only happens in brochures. It doesn't happen pretty much anywhere north of Townsville, (or not this dry season anyway). There's bloody mud flats, brown water, mangroves, crocodiles...midges, (jeez I love midges).
Anyway, on with the prattle. We are currently at Airlie Beach but let's clean up some of the stuff that's happened before now.
From Karumba we went to Mount Suprise and visited the lava tubes...you gotta do this if you ever get a chance, they are amazing. Then on to the Atherton Tableland which is just great country. Some places remind you of Tassie. Saw all sorts of stuff around Atherton, Mareeba etc, terrific.
Next, Cooktown which is terrific, blows like a bugger, but it's really interesting what with the old captain fixing his boat here.
Almost forgot, Cooktown also has the most bad tempered fish and chip shop owner in the world, (almost like the soup Nazi out of Kramer only grumpier).
We were waiting for our order and a young female backpacker, (probably an Ozzie) came in. There's a sign on the counter that says "all produce is local"...so the poor innocent backpacker for reasons best known to herself asked if the calamari was local.
Mrs Grumparse replied, "No, it's from New Zealand but it's crumbed here". The young backpacker quickly ordered and waited outside until her order was ready. Mally had a kind word to her as we left, we think she was in shock as a result of the verbal attack.
From Cooktown, we went down to Cape Tribulation along the dirt road, crossing the Bloomfield River along the way and having a beer at the Lion's Den tin shed pub on the way back. Fantastic, unspoilt rainforest country...bloody lovely.
Next down to Wonga Beach which is above Mossman and the beginning of sugar cane country...(Christ there's a lot of sugar cane and Italian names in the area).
Did a day trip back up to Cape Tribulation, another on the Daintree River, (more crocs) and had a pretty good look around.
But best of all we met a lady with an ankle bracelet.
Her name was Lois and her husband's name was John, (John's father was a famous war artist, can't remember his name).
Anyway, when we first met Lois I spotted that she had an ankle bracelet and I just couldn't take my eyes off that bracelet. The reason was that right next to the ankle bracelet was a nipple...Lois is 76...so good on her for wearing an ankle bracelet.
Went down to Port Douglas on Sunday for the all you can eat brekky on the marina as well as the market.
On to Cairns which has a most magical backdrop of hills and rain forest. Not much to report about Cairns except that it has a terrific boardwalk which has a huge swimming pool that looks like it stretches into the ocean beyond...seems odd in a way, all that water out there and you have to swim in a pool.
(We went back to Port Douglas from Cairns the following Sunday to catch up with Heidi and Gary (who Mally knows from the tennis club, Gary is the nice one) as well as their friends. Lovely lunch on the balcony of their apartment overlooking the water, (they were staying in a luxury apartment, we went home to a caravan).
Also met the guy in the van next to us, he and his wife come up from Tassie every year and stay in the same site for 4 months. They do the water aerobics on Wednesday and Saturday mornings as well as the line dancing, (all organised by the caravan park). (I was joking about the line dancing but I think they did have other activities not dissimilar).
Next we stayed at Kurrimine Beach where the weather was probably the worst. But still, there was heaps to do and see including going back up onto the Atherton tableland to see more of the fantastic countryside as well as Mission Beach.
Probably the highlight was going to Paronella. This Spanish guy, (Mr Paronella) built nearly all of it by himself in the early 1900's. Something else you've got to see if you ever make it up this way. It was like I would imagine Ankor Wat would look like, ruins being taken over by the rain forest only this was a series of small castle turrets, hydro electric scheme and incredible gardens.
Another highlight, (if only for a night), was meeting Derek and Chalice, (yes, as in the thing you drink out of). Ex Rhodesians who live in Ferntree Gully. We'll catch up with them when we get back so we can talk some more about the final solution to the black situation both here and in Zimbabwe.
Townsville is an interesting place, it's the biggest city in Queensland, (outside of Brisbane) with over 200,000 people and it doesn't have a Myer, (Marilyn almost went spare). Plus, while it's a lovely looking place, has a beautiful strand on the beachfront...it doesn't have any dress shops in the CBD, (so you can imagine we didn't stay in Townsville very long).
Next we were Goin' to Bowen... and what a beautiful coast line they have, (helped a lot by sunshine).
So now back to the beginning...Airlie Beach. Great place, heaps of young Swedish nymphets for me, (not sure what Mally's doing).
Naah, just jokin', but it is party town for heaps of backpackers. Been on an all day cruise out to Hook Island, Whitehaven Beach and Daydream Island...and guess what. We went in a helicopter over the islands and the helicopter had no bloody doors, (amazing what those pills can do), Mally is the brave one. It was terrific.
We leave tomorrow to catch up with Robbie, (that's Barb's son. Barb's my middle sister and Robbie is Barb's youngest. She also has Karl who is in Abu Dhabi and Simon who is in Warrnambool), and Robbies new wife Suzy, (she's from New Zealand so an assessment will be posted after we meet her).
So in summary...
-weather is improving as we approach Victoria
-midges are a pain in the freckle
-and we're havin' a nice old time, (even if it doesn't sound like it)
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Glenda is a grandmother. Molly Grace James. Congratulations Glen on all your good work.
Gazuntight to all those Dutch and Germans out there and gidday to everyone who speaks English.
Say hello to the person you're standing next to, (or lying next to if you're in bed). Every little salutation helps make this a better world.
Goodbye to Kevin 07 and Guillotine Gillard, may your stay in opposition be long and longer).
(I made a joke up...Kevin Rudd had his gall bladder out so that he would no longer have that galling feeling after being knifed, (but then again, Julie could have removed it while she was knifing him in the back).
Apologies to all those comrades and true believers, these are my sentiments, based on a fear that our children will pay the legacy for totally inept and inward looking leadership. (Written and spoken by Peter Ward, Caravan Park, Airlie Beach)
So, time to go.
Cuddle up, turn out the lights and don't let the bed bugs bite...the bloody midges will do a good enough job on their own.
(Reminder to me to tell you about Bob and Janice from Sorrento, Perth and the couple next to us who are from hell).
1-If any Queenslander ever goes on about how great the weather is up here tell 'em they're dreamin'. Up until Townsville the weather has been crap all the way down the coast. Which is a tad disappointing when you come north in the belief there's paradise awaiting and it's their bloody dry season.
2-We just worked out why there seem to be less people to talk to...it's because heaps of 'em are from overseas, (mainly Dutch and German) and they don't get the rules. And those rules are:
-always say good morning in the dunny block even if you have a mouth full of toothpaste
-always say gidday no matter who it is, (except if you know they're German or Dutch)
-always talk to the guy next door even if he only wants to tell you about his bloody turbo charged diesel that gets 14.94 litres per 100 kilometres and that's better than the guy he talked to at the last caravan park who only gets 17.6 and he paid $107,000 for his series 200 Toyota bloody Landcruiser and my guy picked up a bargain and only paid $35,000 for his series 100 Toyota bloody Landcruiser.
3-If you ever see photos of blue skies, white sand and blue water...that only happens in brochures. It doesn't happen pretty much anywhere north of Townsville, (or not this dry season anyway). There's bloody mud flats, brown water, mangroves, crocodiles...midges, (jeez I love midges).
Anyway, on with the prattle. We are currently at Airlie Beach but let's clean up some of the stuff that's happened before now.
From Karumba we went to Mount Suprise and visited the lava tubes...you gotta do this if you ever get a chance, they are amazing. Then on to the Atherton Tableland which is just great country. Some places remind you of Tassie. Saw all sorts of stuff around Atherton, Mareeba etc, terrific.
Next, Cooktown which is terrific, blows like a bugger, but it's really interesting what with the old captain fixing his boat here.
Almost forgot, Cooktown also has the most bad tempered fish and chip shop owner in the world, (almost like the soup Nazi out of Kramer only grumpier).
We were waiting for our order and a young female backpacker, (probably an Ozzie) came in. There's a sign on the counter that says "all produce is local"...so the poor innocent backpacker for reasons best known to herself asked if the calamari was local.
Mrs Grumparse replied, "No, it's from New Zealand but it's crumbed here". The young backpacker quickly ordered and waited outside until her order was ready. Mally had a kind word to her as we left, we think she was in shock as a result of the verbal attack.
From Cooktown, we went down to Cape Tribulation along the dirt road, crossing the Bloomfield River along the way and having a beer at the Lion's Den tin shed pub on the way back. Fantastic, unspoilt rainforest country...bloody lovely.
Next down to Wonga Beach which is above Mossman and the beginning of sugar cane country...(Christ there's a lot of sugar cane and Italian names in the area).
Did a day trip back up to Cape Tribulation, another on the Daintree River, (more crocs) and had a pretty good look around.
But best of all we met a lady with an ankle bracelet.
Her name was Lois and her husband's name was John, (John's father was a famous war artist, can't remember his name).
Anyway, when we first met Lois I spotted that she had an ankle bracelet and I just couldn't take my eyes off that bracelet. The reason was that right next to the ankle bracelet was a nipple...Lois is 76...so good on her for wearing an ankle bracelet.
Went down to Port Douglas on Sunday for the all you can eat brekky on the marina as well as the market.
On to Cairns which has a most magical backdrop of hills and rain forest. Not much to report about Cairns except that it has a terrific boardwalk which has a huge swimming pool that looks like it stretches into the ocean beyond...seems odd in a way, all that water out there and you have to swim in a pool.
(We went back to Port Douglas from Cairns the following Sunday to catch up with Heidi and Gary (who Mally knows from the tennis club, Gary is the nice one) as well as their friends. Lovely lunch on the balcony of their apartment overlooking the water, (they were staying in a luxury apartment, we went home to a caravan).
Also met the guy in the van next to us, he and his wife come up from Tassie every year and stay in the same site for 4 months. They do the water aerobics on Wednesday and Saturday mornings as well as the line dancing, (all organised by the caravan park). (I was joking about the line dancing but I think they did have other activities not dissimilar).
Next we stayed at Kurrimine Beach where the weather was probably the worst. But still, there was heaps to do and see including going back up onto the Atherton tableland to see more of the fantastic countryside as well as Mission Beach.
Probably the highlight was going to Paronella. This Spanish guy, (Mr Paronella) built nearly all of it by himself in the early 1900's. Something else you've got to see if you ever make it up this way. It was like I would imagine Ankor Wat would look like, ruins being taken over by the rain forest only this was a series of small castle turrets, hydro electric scheme and incredible gardens.
Another highlight, (if only for a night), was meeting Derek and Chalice, (yes, as in the thing you drink out of). Ex Rhodesians who live in Ferntree Gully. We'll catch up with them when we get back so we can talk some more about the final solution to the black situation both here and in Zimbabwe.
Townsville is an interesting place, it's the biggest city in Queensland, (outside of Brisbane) with over 200,000 people and it doesn't have a Myer, (Marilyn almost went spare). Plus, while it's a lovely looking place, has a beautiful strand on the beachfront...it doesn't have any dress shops in the CBD, (so you can imagine we didn't stay in Townsville very long).
Next we were Goin' to Bowen... and what a beautiful coast line they have, (helped a lot by sunshine).
So now back to the beginning...Airlie Beach. Great place, heaps of young Swedish nymphets for me, (not sure what Mally's doing).
Naah, just jokin', but it is party town for heaps of backpackers. Been on an all day cruise out to Hook Island, Whitehaven Beach and Daydream Island...and guess what. We went in a helicopter over the islands and the helicopter had no bloody doors, (amazing what those pills can do), Mally is the brave one. It was terrific.
We leave tomorrow to catch up with Robbie, (that's Barb's son. Barb's my middle sister and Robbie is Barb's youngest. She also has Karl who is in Abu Dhabi and Simon who is in Warrnambool), and Robbies new wife Suzy, (she's from New Zealand so an assessment will be posted after we meet her).
So in summary...
-weather is improving as we approach Victoria
-midges are a pain in the freckle
-and we're havin' a nice old time, (even if it doesn't sound like it)
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Glenda is a grandmother. Molly Grace James. Congratulations Glen on all your good work.
Gazuntight to all those Dutch and Germans out there and gidday to everyone who speaks English.
Say hello to the person you're standing next to, (or lying next to if you're in bed). Every little salutation helps make this a better world.
Goodbye to Kevin 07 and Guillotine Gillard, may your stay in opposition be long and longer).
(I made a joke up...Kevin Rudd had his gall bladder out so that he would no longer have that galling feeling after being knifed, (but then again, Julie could have removed it while she was knifing him in the back).
Apologies to all those comrades and true believers, these are my sentiments, based on a fear that our children will pay the legacy for totally inept and inward looking leadership. (Written and spoken by Peter Ward, Caravan Park, Airlie Beach)
So, time to go.
Cuddle up, turn out the lights and don't let the bed bugs bite...the bloody midges will do a good enough job on their own.
(Reminder to me to tell you about Bob and Janice from Sorrento, Perth and the couple next to us who are from hell).
Friday, July 2, 2010
As high as we go this time...
We've been in Cooktown for a couple of days now which is as high as we will go on this trip, (so I suppose it's all down hill from here).
Now, before I go on, I've gotta expand on some of the people we met at Karumba...
There was Evan who knows a heap of stuff and has a very definite opinion on everything. When you first meet him, he seems pretty serious, but once you learn that he has a limited time left on this earth due to health problems, you realise he hasn't got time for stuffin' around with fools and all he wants to do is fish and enjoy the moment. (Evan has a funny black hat that has red hair attached to it, he wears it to happy hour a lot). Evan also greased me nipples, (on the van that is).
Del, that's Evan's wife. She loves to go out in the boat with Evan but doesn't like trolling very much...just likes being out there in the boat, which is pretty terrific.
Then there was John. A big happy bloke who was always up for a chat and knew lots of stuff about fishing...and generally almost everything else.
His wife Pauline, who, when you first meet her you would think she wouldn't say boo; but get her going and she was a real match for John. Pauline doesn't go fishing at all.
We went to the local pub with John and Pauline for the Tuesday night special: chicken schnitzel, crumbed steak or ribs all including vegies and only $17 for 2 meals. Gee it was cheap, christ it was awful.
Then there was Kathy who we only met once at happy hour...she bayed at the moon...
Now you gotta understand that this is a small sample of perhaps a thousand or more senior folk who every year, pack up their vans, put their boats on top of their four wheel drives and head up to Karumba to stay for anything up to 6 or 7 months. And they do the same thing every year for years on end.
John and Pauline are from Ballarat and they're busting to come down to Phillip Island, (John wants to fish there for Snapper). So they're coming to stay with us, (John's bringing his boat, it's a Quintrex...I haven't got a boat).
So, while this has been a pretty disjointed series of paragraphs, what it comes down to is this...we do have a wonderful tradition of mateship and larrikanism that is uniquely Australian, (it's alive and well in the outback).
Our country folk are suffering from the effects of years drought and small towns are dying.
People employed in the mining industry don't know what the hell is going on.
We do have heaps of senior people who go north to get away from the cold. They laugh a lot and have more wisdom and knowledge than most people you would ever like to meet.
So, I ask the question. Why the hell don't our dear politicians stop quibbling and grand standing and get off their collective arses to make sure that they don't give the whole country away and bugger the whole thing up entirely.
The further you get away from the so called sophistication of the big cities, the more you see what a stuff up it has all become...
Australia is not being served well by people who want it to have a bigger population as well as being a player on the world stage.
So, enough of that and back to the story.
No, I've decided the story will have to wait 'til next time.
Happy birthday to all those having or are due to have birthdays.
Happy yunikers to our Jewish friends.
Congratulations to Glen on the purchase of her new Mazda 3, (it may not be white and a sedan...but does that really matter when it looks better in Charcoal and is a hatchback).
Hello to all Geelong supporters.
So it's goodbye from me and goodnight from her.
Muzzletov.
Now, before I go on, I've gotta expand on some of the people we met at Karumba...
There was Evan who knows a heap of stuff and has a very definite opinion on everything. When you first meet him, he seems pretty serious, but once you learn that he has a limited time left on this earth due to health problems, you realise he hasn't got time for stuffin' around with fools and all he wants to do is fish and enjoy the moment. (Evan has a funny black hat that has red hair attached to it, he wears it to happy hour a lot). Evan also greased me nipples, (on the van that is).
Del, that's Evan's wife. She loves to go out in the boat with Evan but doesn't like trolling very much...just likes being out there in the boat, which is pretty terrific.
Then there was John. A big happy bloke who was always up for a chat and knew lots of stuff about fishing...and generally almost everything else.
His wife Pauline, who, when you first meet her you would think she wouldn't say boo; but get her going and she was a real match for John. Pauline doesn't go fishing at all.
We went to the local pub with John and Pauline for the Tuesday night special: chicken schnitzel, crumbed steak or ribs all including vegies and only $17 for 2 meals. Gee it was cheap, christ it was awful.
Then there was Kathy who we only met once at happy hour...she bayed at the moon...
Now you gotta understand that this is a small sample of perhaps a thousand or more senior folk who every year, pack up their vans, put their boats on top of their four wheel drives and head up to Karumba to stay for anything up to 6 or 7 months. And they do the same thing every year for years on end.
John and Pauline are from Ballarat and they're busting to come down to Phillip Island, (John wants to fish there for Snapper). So they're coming to stay with us, (John's bringing his boat, it's a Quintrex...I haven't got a boat).
So, while this has been a pretty disjointed series of paragraphs, what it comes down to is this...we do have a wonderful tradition of mateship and larrikanism that is uniquely Australian, (it's alive and well in the outback).
Our country folk are suffering from the effects of years drought and small towns are dying.
People employed in the mining industry don't know what the hell is going on.
We do have heaps of senior people who go north to get away from the cold. They laugh a lot and have more wisdom and knowledge than most people you would ever like to meet.
So, I ask the question. Why the hell don't our dear politicians stop quibbling and grand standing and get off their collective arses to make sure that they don't give the whole country away and bugger the whole thing up entirely.
The further you get away from the so called sophistication of the big cities, the more you see what a stuff up it has all become...
Australia is not being served well by people who want it to have a bigger population as well as being a player on the world stage.
So, enough of that and back to the story.
No, I've decided the story will have to wait 'til next time.
Happy birthday to all those having or are due to have birthdays.
Happy yunikers to our Jewish friends.
Congratulations to Glen on the purchase of her new Mazda 3, (it may not be white and a sedan...but does that really matter when it looks better in Charcoal and is a hatchback).
Hello to all Geelong supporters.
So it's goodbye from me and goodnight from her.
Muzzletov.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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