http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/retirement/ 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 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +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/youd-think-the-mining-tax-was-all-about-billionaires/ The massive sums and the wealthy characters in the bitter debate over the mining profits tax have swamped discussion of a plan to help the lowest paid Australians. This measure would address the painful worry of hundreds of thousands of working women that they will not be able to save money for retirement. It is a move designed to avoid the unhappy destiny of many unskilled women - there are just over two million in the workforce - who at the end of their working lives face a struggle to survive. It has bipartisan support to the extent that if the Government proceeds with it the Coalition, should it win government, would not wind it back. But it is rarely mentioned because the debate is anchored in the fate of billions of dollars, not in the futures of millions of the low paid. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youd-think-the-mining-tax-was-all-about-billionaires/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youd-think-the-mining-tax-was-all-about-billionaires/#item8057 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/thorpie-please-dont-squander-your-legacy/ Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/thorpie-please-dont-squander-your-legacy/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/thorpie-please-dont-squander-your-legacy/#item8030 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Ponting-channels-Seinfeld-with-a-show-about-nothing/ So here’s the news, if you can call it that. Ricky Ponting will no longer play One Day cricket, which we all knew, given he was dropped from the team yesterday. As Ponting himself effectively said this morning, the selectorial door is not a revolving one at his age. Ponting will, however, continue to play Test cricket. So the Ponting landscape today is pretty much the same as it is yesterday, which made the 70 media at today’s presser, myself included, wonder why we had bothered to leave the office. Notwithstanding the mild inconvenience of attending a cricketing equivalent of a Seinfeldian show about nothing, it’s worth reflecting on Ponting’s decision. And while we’re at it, let’s celebrate the 375 One Dayers Ponting racked up for Australia. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Ponting-channels-Seinfeld-with-a-show-about-nothing/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Ponting-channels-Seinfeld-with-a-show-about-nothing/#item7818 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-have-we-abandonded-our-troops/ “The willingness of future generations to serve in our military will be directly dependent upon how we have treated those who have served in the past.”  George Washington. So the politicians have seen fit to grant themselves another pay rise. No, sorry, the Federal Remuneration Tribunal has granted them a pay rise and they have accepted its ruling. Changing the legislation to say no is apparently not an option. What many may not realise is that politician pay rises benefit not just current politicians, but all qualifying pre-2004 retired politicians. If those retired politicians are survived by their spouse this pay rise also goes to them. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-have-we-abandonded-our-troops/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-have-we-abandonded-our-troops/#item7511 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punter-stop-hedging-your-bets.-retire-now/ Princess Mary is currently holidaying in Tassie, but she’s not the only home-grown royalty in town. From a humble upbringing in country Mowbray, Ricky Thomas Ponting has ascended to arguably the loftiest post in the wide brown land; Australian Cricket Captain. While he’s come under fire of late from the media, selectors and fans on the mainland, the support back home has been unwavering. The headline from Launceston rag The Examiner before his debut test read: “He’s Ricky Ponting, he’s ours… and he’s made it! Tassie’s batting star will play in his first Test”. And the Taswegian media have been waxing lyrical about Punter ever since. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punter-stop-hedging-your-bets.-retire-now/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punter-stop-hedging-your-bets.-retire-now/#item7339 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-14-11-2011/ If you’re decades older than the retirement age but you really love your job, should you still retire? One of Britain’s oldest workers didn’t think so. Syd Prior, a worker at a DIY superstore, retired at age 96 last week. He said the job kept him young. All you working people out there, would you ever work past your retirement age? And what about you retirees? Is retirement all that it’s sometimes cracked up to be? What are the best and worst parts of it? It’s Monday, folks. What’s on your mind? penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-14-11-2011/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-14-11-2011/#item7126 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/washed-up-champs-who-dont-know-when-to-quit/ Tiger Woods is one contradictory cat. There’s a human being inside that shell, a living, breathing, joke-cracking, thoughtful guy with all kinds of normal human feelings. But there’s also a mercenary. A man who this week privately played golf with anonymous Chinese millionaires for huge sums of money. A golfing enthusiast who will rave about Australia’s world class golf courses, and how he wishes America had more courses like ours, then greedily pocket three million for the privilege of playing here. But if you think Tiger is ruthless in the way he subjugates all dignity in his endless quest to accumulate money, that’s nothing on the way he suppresses his own emotions. At his Tuesday media call at The Lakes Golf Club, which The Punch attended, he didn’t once acknowledge the effect his marital break-up and sex scandal had on his golf game. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/washed-up-champs-who-dont-know-when-to-quit/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/washed-up-champs-who-dont-know-when-to-quit/#item7114 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ex-pollies-just-shut-up-and-put-the-kettle-on/ I am becoming increasingly tired of seeing, hearing or reading in the media, former Prime Ministers or politicians struggling to retire from political power and influence with dignity. Anyone with even a modest interest in politics could compile a substantial list in just a few minutes. Think Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Pauline Hanson, Peter Beattie, Bob Carr, Cheryl Kernot, Jeff Kennett, Mark Latham, John Hewson, Peter Costello, Graham Richardson and Peter Reith and you will have just started. Why don’t these ex-pollies just put the kettle on and relax? Then of course there is deposed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who is suffering the “Kath and Kim “ syndrome: “Look at me, look at me, look at me!” penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ex-pollies-just-shut-up-and-put-the-kettle-on/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ex-pollies-just-shut-up-and-put-the-kettle-on/#item6958 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/there-that-wasnt-so-hard-was-it-ricky/ So Ricky Ponting has quit as Australian cricket captain. About time. And Ricky Ponting will still be available for selection as a regular member of the team. As he should be. Months and even years of speculation were laid to rest at the SCG today, when Ponting announced his seven year reign was over. “I’ve still got a lot to offer as player,” he told a hefty media contingent. “Younger players can learn from me and the way I play, and there’s no better place for them to learn than in the heat of the battle.” Before the announcement, a few wise-cracking journalists were framing the odds of Ponting breaking into tears. Didn’t happen. Ponting only made his decision last night, and called Michael Clarke first thing this morning to tell him. But he kept his emotions in check, even if his crumpled notes suggested he’d rehearsed his lines long into the night to keep the waterworks at bay. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/there-that-wasnt-so-hard-was-it-ricky/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/there-that-wasnt-so-hard-was-it-ricky/#item5505 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/life-is-not-a-rehearsal/ What do you do with your life when what is left can be counted in years, rather than decades? When the realisation hits that you are sliding into oblivion? This new fear is aided and abetted by the overwhelming attitude of the community towards the elderly. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/life-is-not-a-rehearsal/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/life-is-not-a-rehearsal/#item5362 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Is it a demonstration of what’s great about the Aussie spirit to keep doing something even after you find out for sure 20 people younger than you are better at it, and your Olympic hopes are dashed? Ian Thorpe’s disappointing weekend in the pool, and what he said once he got out of the pool, has got me stumped. They guy is a great champion, and not just that, he seems like an incredibly decent person too. He should be remembered not just for his incredible feats in competitive swimming, but for the way he behaved while he was under the white-hot glare of Australian expectations for all those years. You can’t fake good character for that long when you’re that young.