http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/budget-09/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/kevin-rudd-doesnt-want-you-to-have-your-own-money/ It took me a while to realise it because usually, people who enter politics have some smarts and go in wanting to do what they believe is the right thing. They pursue policies they believe will make our country an even better place. That is why I have been at a loss to understand how a group of people who promised us in the lead up to the last election that they were “economic conservatives” who “believed in surpluses” could turn a low unemployment surplus economy into one with rising job losses, record spending and historic debt levels. Then it hit me – it is not that Labor can’t manage money – it is that they actually don’t want us to get ahead and have our own money. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/kevin-rudd-doesnt-want-you-to-have-your-own-money/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/kevin-rudd-doesnt-want-you-to-have-your-own-money/#item516 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/50-ways-the-gfc-has-changed-australia/ So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/50-ways-the-gfc-has-changed-australia/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/50-ways-the-gfc-has-changed-australia/#item481 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/busting-the-scare-campaign-myth/ Mark Arbib knows a lot about what he likes to call “scare campaigns”. As NSW ALP state secretary he revealed a special talent for negativity with his personal attacks on former NSW Liberal leader Peter Debnam. The Bogeyman - The best free videos are right here So maybe it was his guilty conscience talking in The Punch when he accused the federal Coalition of unleashing what he calls the “politics of fear and loathing” on the Rudd Government’s $315 billion debt. Then again, maybe he was just spinning the standard line our opponents roll out every time the Coalition highlights one of Labor’s shortcomings. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/busting-the-scare-campaign-myth/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/busting-the-scare-campaign-myth/#item406 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fun-it-may-be-but-locking-up-journos-is-pointless/ We knew something was up when the party pies ran out. There was a whiff of the end of times that the cheap percolated coffee couldn’t quite hide. And so it came to pass. The state Budget lock up was no more. South Australia – first state to give women the vote, to ban plastic bags and forbid groups of people who ride motorcycles from hanging out together, has now become the first state to lose the lock up. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fun-it-may-be-but-locking-up-journos-is-pointless/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fun-it-may-be-but-locking-up-journos-is-pointless/#item374 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/private-debt-is-the-pig-in-the-farmyard/ The debate the government deficit reminds me of the slogan that The Sheep from Animal Farm chanted in support of The Pigs: “Four legs good, Two legs bad”. Anything The Pigs did was OK, because they were Animals, and therefore good. Anything Humans did was not, because they walked on two legs and were therefore bad. Ditto the debate over the debt levels being accumulated by the Federal Government in response to the Global Financial Crisis: it seems that Government debt is “two legged”, while private debt incurred is “four legged”. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/private-debt-is-the-pig-in-the-farmyard/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/private-debt-is-the-pig-in-the-farmyard/#item295 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Punch-malcolm-turnbull-is-not-that-scary/ I suspect there was a garbage bin full of “Rudd Recession” posters and TV Ads in Malcolm Turnbull’s office last week. Crosby Texter must have been furious. They were gearing up for the mother of all scare campaigns. Instead they are left with a second rate scare campaign on debt. This is how it goes … 18 months ago there was no debt.  Now debt is out of control. It’s $300 billion!  Be afraid!  Blame Labor! Of course 18 months ago there was no global recession.  But don’t expect Malcolm to tell you that.  Or how much he would spend.  That would destroy the scare campaign.  Why?  Because Malcolm would borrow almost exactly the same amount - $275 billion. That’s what makes this scare campaign more like Scary Movie than Wolf Creek. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Punch-malcolm-turnbull-is-not-that-scary/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Punch-malcolm-turnbull-is-not-that-scary/#item256 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/counterpunch-pro-hart-would-be-proud-of-rudds-budget-mess/ You may remember that great carpet ad with the late Pro Hart, where together with his dog Rembrandt, he totally trashes a rug with pasta, red wine, chocolate sauce and cake. He splashes it about, rolls around in it, and even fires a shot gun at it.  The cleaner then walks in and famously says, in that great accent, Oh Mr Hart, what a mess! The only difference I can see between the Rudd Government’s approach to fiscal policy and Pro Hart’s carpet antics, is at least Pro Hart produced a work of art (of sorts). For the past eighteen months, Kevin and Wayne have been splashing around cash and rolling around on the carpet in others people’s money, like there is no tomorrow. They’ve taken a shot gun to the surplus, like Pro did with the cake, and splattered it all over the room. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/counterpunch-pro-hart-would-be-proud-of-rudds-budget-mess/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/counterpunch-pro-hart-would-be-proud-of-rudds-budget-mess/#item257 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rudd-and-swans-spin-spinning-out-of-control/ It’s a pretty incredible feat of backspin when a Government would rather say it cocked something up than admit its PR was poorly managed. But Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan’s stonewalling on the deficit and debt in the week after the Budget backfired on them so badly its now being claimed it was the result of their own incompetence, not dodgy spin. Spun out? You’re not the only one. In his column this weekend Laurie Oakes said, contrary to all appearances, Rudd and Swan were advised by their spin doctors to “embrace the numbers” but failed to do so because of “old-fashioned unadulterated incompetence”. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rudd-and-swans-spin-spinning-out-of-control/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rudd-and-swans-spin-spinning-out-of-control/#item177 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/it-might-be-a-bad-number/ Update: watch Rudd’s limp Lateline performance here HERE’S a quick test. Read the following words out loud: Three. Hundred. Billion. Dollars. Did you succeed? Congratulations! You could be in with a chance of doing a better job at levelling with the Australian people than the current Prime Minister. Kevin Rudd was collared on Lateline when asked to name the peak level of debt that Australia would face according to the current plan as outlined in the federal Budget last week. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/it-might-be-a-bad-number/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/it-might-be-a-bad-number/#item140 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/malcolm-in-the-muddle-turnbulls-budget-reply/ Because everyone hasn’t heard enough about Twitter, I’m going to start with a quote from it tonight: kinkylinkn: Turnbull had some good ideas but when he unashamedly craps on about the Rudd gov that’s when I turn the tv off with a burst of “idiot”. I have a habit of complaining about politicians, er, complaining all the time. The last whinge in this vein I had to anyone who would lists was about the Treasurer whingeing that Howard’s mob had let spending on some programs go too far, so he would have to wind it back. piotrowskid@newsltd.com.au (Daniel Piotrowski) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/malcolm-in-the-muddle-turnbulls-budget-reply/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/malcolm-in-the-muddle-turnbulls-budget-reply/#item112 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:13 +0000 So we know the GFC is here. Many of us have lost our jobs, we’re all watching our superannuation shrink faster than we can top it up, and all of a sudden bling is out and understated is the new black. But what does a nearly recession actually look like? The Team at the Punch has come up with our list of the 50 ways the Global Financial Crisis (it’s officially capped, you know), has changed Australia. Some of them have hard numbers to back them up – others are a sniff of the wind, observations about changes in language and society. We welcome your suggestions. 1. We’re cooking at home. Woolworths has noticed a bump in sales of cooking staples such as eggs and butter, as well as increased demand for value cuts of meat (we’re making casseroles), and for cheaper Home Brand products.