Somebody Has To Pay

Must surely be now 'budget emergency' or 'budget repair' and the end of franking credits cash refunds, negative gearing, many Superannuation concessions, capital gains tax 50% discount. Hockey said 'somebody has to pay' and we will. #auspol #auspol2020 @MichaelWestBiz pic.twitter.com/4kSuRaYZZv

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) March 30, 2020

Will Trickle Down Economics Work

"Will the trickle-down package trickle beyond the banks and big business?" https://t.co/hpP35loaKH #auspol #auspol2020 #covid19australia #covid19aus

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) March 21, 2020

The Cost Of Privilege

This report The cost of Privilege by percapita and Anglicare is a must read if you are interested in understanding who is really getting what from the federal government in terms of payments and concessions.

Read the report here - https://www.anglicare.asn.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cost-of-privilege---households.pdf?sfvrsn=0

The Cost of Privilege

Newstart Has Made Her Homeless

The New Daily reports -

"Newstart recipient Karryn Smith, 58, considers herself “one of the lucky ones”, yet the former school teacher is living out of her car.

Ms Smith shared her tragic story with The New Daily, as pressure continued to mount on the Morrison government to lift the dole payment by $75 a week amid evidence Newstart recipients are struggling to survive.

Over-55s are the largest single group of Australians on Newstart, with 173,196 people relying on just $39 a day, recent data has shown."

Read the full story here - https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/07/30/newstart-teacher-homeless/

Retiree Housing Policy & Aged Care Funding

Is government policy on retiree housing simply self-defeating? Short term boost to spending but giant hit to existing problem, Aged Care Funding and the impact on the budget and taxpayers. #agedcare #agedcarerc @MichaelWestBiz @acccgovau @JoshFrydenberg @AlboMP @annabelcrabb pic.twitter.com/OMEmSkk5NY

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 26, 2019

Government Retiree Housing Policy Self Defeating

This seems to be government policy on senior housing. Isn't the danger short term boost to spending but giant hit to an existing problem, Aged Care Funding and the impact on the budget and taxpayers. #auspol @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg #pensioners @MichaelPascoe01 @AlboMP pic.twitter.com/o6MHChiXz1

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 25, 2019

Political Cruelty Behind No Increase For Newstart

Thank you to these people/organisations that produce this clear to understand data on the reality behind #Newstart which then highlights the political cruelty behind a refusal to increase the payment. https://t.co/lIfFfP4rzx #auspol #RaisetheRate @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg pic.twitter.com/vK1lBrGddp

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 24, 2019

Morrison to Prioritise Pensions Over Newstart

WAtoday reports -

Morrison government to prioritise pensioners over Newstart recipients.

"Pensioners will be prioritised ahead of unemployed Australians for any boost to welfare payments as the Morrison government stands firm against growing demands to lift the Newstart allowance.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told colleagues returning the budget to surplus is his "number one priority" and any future increase in welfare payments will be directed towards the 2 million Australians on the aged pension."

Read the full story here - https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-to-prioritise-pensioners-over-newstart-recipients-20190724-p52afs.html

Aged pensioner says sorry to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

46.2% Of Newstart Recipients Over 40 Years Of Age

To @JulianLeeser MP This chart shows a lack of understanding and the political cruelty in your support of NO INCREASE in #newstart. 46.2% of newstart recipients are aged 40 years and over. The days of they are all just 'dole bludgers' is well and truly gone #auspol @annabelcrabb pic.twitter.com/ZTUMFnOqIU

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 20, 2019

Pensioner Says I Am Sorry to Scott Morrison

An aged pensioner has said I am Sorry to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo) for seemingly being a burden on the State.

This follows Social Services Minister Anne Ruston reported as saying "It is a generous amount of money that the Australian taxpayers make available to our older Australians".

Pensioner Offers Apology to Senator Anne Ruston

To @Anne_Ruston MP. I am sorry. Sorry that I wasn't as aspirational as I should have been. Sorry that I am finishing my life journey as an aged pensioner. Sorry that I am not worthy of your respect. I am sorry. #pensioners #auspol @annabelcrabb @ScottMorrisonMP @farrm51 #deeming pic.twitter.com/wwr5gopkuF

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 20, 2019

Push to Raise Newstart

To @JulianLeeser MP. These charts clearly show the political cruelty in your support of NO INCREASE in #newstart. #auspol @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg @AlboMP @annabelcrabb https://t.co/Z5tpQpKVgD pic.twitter.com/OZuL32qlEf

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 20, 2019

Lying is Lying

Sorry @AlboMP but lying is lying, surely people who tell untruths must be called out for it. Where will the truth go if all that is told is an untruth. We have had the "Alternative Facts" concept, is it now "Alternative Truths", surely not. #auspol @AUSLaborRBLX @annabelcrabb pic.twitter.com/Kb3YqSxlpr

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 19, 2019

Senator Anne Ruston Criticised Over Pensioner Statement

This tweet is directed to Anne Ruston MP. "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago". Hello, PENSIONERS planted those trees. @Anne_Ruston #AnneRuston #pensioners @PatsKarvelas @farrm51 @annabelcrabb @dwabriz #auspol @ScottMorrisonMP pic.twitter.com/4miSGV2g6v

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 16, 2019

Pensioners Seek Social Services Minister Anne Ruston Apology

The Senior Magazine reports -

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has come under fire for suggesting the pension is generous, as seniors groups and Labor call for more changes to help older Australians.

Senator Ruston embarked on a media blitz on Monday to sell the coalition government's decision to give a boost to some pensioners.

"It is a generous amount of money that the Australian taxpayers make available to our older Australians," she told 3AW on Monday.

When pressed on the comments, Senator Ruston said: "In terms of the amount of money that taxpayers fund our social welfare system, we put a lot of money into it."

Read the full story here - https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/6275720/minister-in-hot-water-over-pension-comment/

Pensioners Going Without Food

'Going Without Food' - Is the claim of Austrlain pensioners. #auspol @JoshFrydenberg @acccgovau #deemingrates #pensioners https://t.co/uev1iDT8kr

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 16, 2019

Political Cruelty in Newstart Payment

NEWSTART - The reality of the political cruelty in the decision to not increase newstart rates is that 46.2% of all newstart recipients are aged 40yrs and over. Sadly Government of the few, by the few, for the few. #auspol @PatsKarvelas @farrm51 @annabelcrabb @dwabriz #newstart pic.twitter.com/naonO9AAzu

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 7, 2019

Federal Laws For Retirement Villages

The direction of the Aged Care industry is leading to longer periods in retirement villages (in home care) and shorter periods in residential aged care. This leaves the States in charge of the elderly! Time for Federal laws for RV's. https://t.co/S7itoxjjoh #agedcare #agedcarerc pic.twitter.com/BzQsONE0BB

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) July 5, 2019

Discrepancy Between Cash & Care

Seldom does a phrase so distinctly sum up the issue at hand. "A discrepancy between how much the facility received to care for my father & the care he actually received" #agedcarerc #auspol #agedcare @richardmcolbeck pic.twitter.com/An1ZMBpWqe

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) June 27, 2019

Impact on Aged Care Funding

The transfer of intergenerational wealth. The numbers in the table give it some perspective. The impact on @agedcare funding is scary. This is just ONE village not all of them. #agedcare #agedcarerc @abc730 @acccgovau #auspol @ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg @AlboMP @neighbour_s pic.twitter.com/E9U8XRsSTl

— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) June 25, 2019