Politics in this country has become very sad again. Not that I really know what I’m talking about but I thought the budget, apart from maybe the tax on super profit mining companies, was incredibly sad. A cut for social services, a cut for international aid, a cut for climate change and a massive investment in border protection. What a disappointment. It seems all Australians ever want is tax cuts and limited spending. “What’s it in for me?” was the question been asked over and over in the discussions about the budget. I don’t understand why people don’t want governments to spend money. I know we have a debt but it is relatively low in comparison to most other countries and if in the name of offering decent services to Australians and the world, especially those who need it most but can’t afford it, it takes a few more years to pay it off I don’t see the problem.
Also, I don’t understand the attack on Kevin Rudd’s little outburst on the 7.30 report. I mean it was hardly over the top really and I thought seeing some passion from the PM wasn’t a bad thing at all especially about climate change. Why has it become a bad thing for politicians to express emotion? Sometimes I find it hard to not just give up on people.
I just hope that those who are disappointed in Kevin Rudd and the government, for which I am one, although I do understand his point about been limited by the opposition (as well as the Australian people in my opinion) decide to vote for the Greens instead and not the Liberals. Tony Abbott scares me.
the info that I have says there was a $530 million increase in aid taking us from the current 0.31% of GNI to 0.33% which is on tract to reach the governments commitment of 0.5% by 2015,
there was decreases in particular ares of aid but the over all aid budget increased.
the govenremnt is spending $350 million to assist developing countries with climate change adaption and mitigation but this is below the targets agreed to at copenghagen, so its good its being spent but not enough which is really a theme for this budget.
That’s helpful to know about the aid although what I was listening to said it was less than it was going to be so that is what I was referring to by cut.
Same with climate change. As you say they are spending some money but a lot less than it was going to be and definitley not enough so again a cut.
Abbot goes about the interview, “if that’s what he is like on television I wonder what he is like in real life?” The connotation was “what a psycho.” I couldn’t help thinking. I couldn’t help thinking, he’s probably like me in real life.