Stage 3 Tax Amendments

[Gremlin]

My post is less about the actual changes and more about how so many people are losing their biscuits over what's been announced.

The level of hyperbole, from people at both ends of the political spectrum, is extraordinary.  Lots of popcorn on hand...

[deborah]

Interesting given how many broken promises there were in the 2014 budget.

[mjr]

In the interests of good and accountable government, there should be more outrage over blatant broken promises, not normalise it.  Regardless of which side does it.

In any case, this is less about the broken promise per se and more about the bald-face lying that went on right up until the announcement and the pathetic attempt to subsequently spin it.

[Gremlin]

In the interests of good and accountable government, there should be more outrage over blatant broken promises, not normalise it.  Regardless of which side does it.

In any case, this is less about the broken promise per se and more about the bald-face lying that went on right up until the announcement and the pathetic attempt to subsequently spin it.

Exhibit A

[twinstudy]

In the interests of good and accountable government, there should be more outrage over blatant broken promises, not normalise it.  Regardless of which side does it.

In any case, this is less about the broken promise per se and more about the bald-face lying that went on right up until the announcement and the pathetic attempt to subsequently spin it.

Exhibit A

If the Liberals do the opposite, promising not to raise taxes on low-income earners and then doing so once in power, would you take an equally sanguine view? "Eh-whatever"?

[Gremlin]

In the interests of good and accountable government, there should be more outrage over blatant broken promises, not normalise it.  Regardless of which side does it.

In any case, this is less about the broken promise per se and more about the bald-face lying that went on right up until the announcement and the pathetic attempt to subsequently spin it.

Exhibit A

If the Liberals do the opposite, promising not to raise taxes on low-income earners and then doing so once in power, would you take an equally sanguine view? "Eh-whatever"?

Interesting necro-post.

But in answer to your question, yes. 

That's what parliament is there for.  If the government of the day decide that particular legislation needs to pass and successfully pass it through two houses of parliament, then it should become law.  They, and those cross-benchers that supported the legislation to pass, then become answerable to the people at the next election.

[twinstudy]

Fair enough. I suspect the Libs will indeed do just that - keep mum on any proposed amendments and then pass them once they are next in power. I suspect most media commentators will decry it as a 'betrayal', though, which is strange because most didn't see the ALP changes that way. It doesn't matter whether the person whose rights are affected is someone earning $180k+ or a pensioner reliant on Centrelink - a betrayal is a betrayal, but a lot of political commentators don't see it that way, and they seek to draw a distinction.

[Gremlin]

Fair enough. I suspect the Libs will indeed do just that - keep mum on any proposed amendments and then pass them once they are next in power. I suspect most media commentators will decry it as a 'betrayal', though, which is strange because most didn't see the ALP changes that way. It doesn't matter whether the person whose rights are affected is someone earning $180k+ or a pensioner reliant on Centrelink - a betrayal is a betrayal, but a lot of political commentators don't see it that way, and they seek to draw a distinction.

You may be right, but I doubt it.  The Libs no longer have a path to government through the wealthier electorates.  They've effectively ceded them to the 'Teals'.  Without a significant change in policy direction, they ain't coming back.  Any path to government is through the outer suburban electorates - those electorates who benefited most by the redistribution of Stage 3.  I can't see them getting into power and immediately kicking the teeth in of those who got them into power - it'd be the most certain way of ensuring a one-term government.