Weekend wrap up
Budgetary matters...
This morning, Treasury modelling shows the increase in the tax on tobacco will no completely cover the cost of reducing the Private Health insurance rebate changes... to the tune of $3Bil. Oops... Better look at that one again, Malcolm. Actually, it seems to me that the Government could adopt the tobacco tax AND push ahead with its changes to health insurance. Surely a couple of billion would help things out (I'm a subscriber to the theory that every little bit counts - particularly when talking about long-term debt).
The Government also needs to more strongly prosecute their case for health insurance changes. Perhaps this is the line to take: We believe in individuals choice, but why should everyone subsidise the wealthy to acquire a service they can already afford. As it stands, its only partially-private health insurance. New figures today also show that the last changes in reducing the rebate cut-off, mooted by the Liberals as focing millions out of private care, have actually seen an increase of people taking up Private Health insurance. I don't believe that people earning of $150,000 are going to change their minds on private care, over $7 a week. Thats 2 coffees a week. Come on!
India's Elections
India's National Congress Party (Gandhi and Nehru heritage) has resoundingly won the elections. This is great news for the country. The main other party is the BJP Ultra-nationalist party... this is a party of insularity, and 'self-reliance' - the same party that shut out international trade during the cold war, and effectively aligned themselves with Russia against the West. It is also worryingly nationalistic and I believe, has inflamed religious tensions in the some states. The Congress party now has more of a mandate to pursue trade liberalisation and economic modernisation - as well as re-engagement in the region. This will better position India to be a second economic powerhouse in Asia and can shape regional politics for the better. Acting as a democratic offset to China, it will definitely be advantageous to the West's engagement with the region.
We was robbed!
What's wrong with the video referee? In Friday night's top-of-the-table clash between the Doggies and St. George, the Dogs ran in a fantastic match winning try with only a few minutes left on the clock. The referee disallowed it due to an alleged obstruction just before Jamal Idris' inspired run. The commentators were calling it a try, the crowds new it was a try... but the eye-in-the-sky disallowed it. I mean, what is a play er supposed to do? 100-odd kilo's of inertia... and they are supposed to what? Disappear into the ground?
What was heartening was that when Doggies fans started throwing bottles onto the ground, Kimmorley marshed a few players and got them to calm down the crowd. Kimmorley is showing himself to be a great leader on the field, and seems to be bringing some much needed discipline and grace to the Doggies.
This morning, Treasury modelling shows the increase in the tax on tobacco will no completely cover the cost of reducing the Private Health insurance rebate changes... to the tune of $3Bil. Oops... Better look at that one again, Malcolm. Actually, it seems to me that the Government could adopt the tobacco tax AND push ahead with its changes to health insurance. Surely a couple of billion would help things out (I'm a subscriber to the theory that every little bit counts - particularly when talking about long-term debt).
The Government also needs to more strongly prosecute their case for health insurance changes. Perhaps this is the line to take: We believe in individuals choice, but why should everyone subsidise the wealthy to acquire a service they can already afford. As it stands, its only partially-private health insurance. New figures today also show that the last changes in reducing the rebate cut-off, mooted by the Liberals as focing millions out of private care, have actually seen an increase of people taking up Private Health insurance. I don't believe that people earning of $150,000 are going to change their minds on private care, over $7 a week. Thats 2 coffees a week. Come on!
India's Elections
India's National Congress Party (Gandhi and Nehru heritage) has resoundingly won the elections. This is great news for the country. The main other party is the BJP Ultra-nationalist party... this is a party of insularity, and 'self-reliance' - the same party that shut out international trade during the cold war, and effectively aligned themselves with Russia against the West. It is also worryingly nationalistic and I believe, has inflamed religious tensions in the some states. The Congress party now has more of a mandate to pursue trade liberalisation and economic modernisation - as well as re-engagement in the region. This will better position India to be a second economic powerhouse in Asia and can shape regional politics for the better. Acting as a democratic offset to China, it will definitely be advantageous to the West's engagement with the region.
We was robbed!
What's wrong with the video referee? In Friday night's top-of-the-table clash between the Doggies and St. George, the Dogs ran in a fantastic match winning try with only a few minutes left on the clock. The referee disallowed it due to an alleged obstruction just before Jamal Idris' inspired run. The commentators were calling it a try, the crowds new it was a try... but the eye-in-the-sky disallowed it. I mean, what is a play er supposed to do? 100-odd kilo's of inertia... and they are supposed to what? Disappear into the ground?
What was heartening was that when Doggies fans started throwing bottles onto the ground, Kimmorley marshed a few players and got them to calm down the crowd. Kimmorley is showing himself to be a great leader on the field, and seems to be bringing some much needed discipline and grace to the Doggies.
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