What we're talking about

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Tony Abbott does a Turnbull

Posted by: Michael Smith | 9 March, 2010 - 2:35 PM

Tony Abbott must be crazy.

I have spoken to enough members of his cabinet to know that Tony Abbott did not have cabinet endorsement of his crazy parental leave scheme.

Tony Abbott has just announced a new Great Big Tax.

A Great Big Tax on you which you’ll pay through higher prices or through reduced returns from your superannuation fund.

It’s a $2.7 billion Great Big Tax. It will cost Australia’s productive economy heaps. It’s an extra 1.7% in tax on all income in excess of $5M for companies.

And as far as I can see the scheme has no friends anywhere.

Mr Abbott says he will levy the Great Big Tax so that he can hand out up to $75,000 to parents of new babies. Payments so they can stay at home with the baby on full pay for 6 months.

He has announced it as a policy without the backing of his cabinet. I have spoken to several of them – they knew nothing and were privately shocked by the announcement.

Just weeks ago Mr Abbott promised the Australian people that there would be no new taxes and no increased taxes to fund his election promises.

This has traces of the madness of Malcolm Turnbull about it.

Nothing for stay at home mums.

This will hit jobs. It will hurt your superannuation fund return, with 1.7% less in company profits.

When did Mr Abbott decide that it was the role of Government to decide winners and losers in the economy? Why should my superannuation fund pay for someone else’s baby?

Just a few weeks ago it was no new taxes. 5 weeks later this mega-tax on the productive bits of the economy. Madness.

Blog comments

Tony, we need a strong opposition not a fickle oppostion. Please don't give the government any more ammunition as this will be to our detriment in the future.

David T Thursday 11 March, 2010 - 5:13 PM
Is anyone else getting sick of public policy being determined by Tony Abbott's daughters? Just when you thought there might be someone to vote for who would not penalise working people (of all classes)and create a massive slush fund to attract the usual rent-seekers and bludgers who spend all their time working out the best welfare angle for themselves. Abbott has shown himself to be an absolute clown over this - and the outback nonsense. Annoucements of huge tax increases without consulting this party - they must be furious, although the mafioso mentality that underlies both parties prevents any public criticism. Democarcy is dead in Australia, this is a tyranny of two tribal warlords living off tax payers.

Justin Wednesday 10 March, 2010 - 10:54 AM
What did you expect Smithy ?. Abbott was part of the Government that made middle class welfare an artform.

Howard & Costello loved nothing more than reaching into the wallets of Singles & DINKS to hand out a few bucks to families with kids at private schools.

Richard Bourke Tuesday 9 March, 2010 - 11:53 PM
Yep...
You had a lot of people rooting for you Tony. People who thought at last we have someone who could be a thorn in KRUDDY's backside.
You've only been there in opposition for five minutes you stupid dick and you come out with something like that.
Shitodear. Who is the next possibility?
Barnaby.... Are you up to it? There's really nothing to beat mate...
What a joke.

Wobblyone Tuesday 9 March, 2010 - 4:23 PM
This is just outrageous!!! When is this Country going to stop the welfare mentality and reward people who work hard and save hard. My husband works very long hours, pays a lot of PAYE tax, pays for both my son who is attending Uni and me, whom because of medical problems cannot work. No free handouts here - only the "privilege" of paying for other people's lifestyle choices. How about waking up before all those hard-working, high tax-paying people just throw in the towel and have some welfare goodies too.

Sue Tuesday 9 March, 2010 - 3:41 PM
Lunacy. And just when I was thinking we had a leader to win the election! Pffftt...wrong! I don't want to pay for anyone to sit on their bum and not contribute to our economy - except old age pensioners.
Who the hell are we going to vote for now Tony has shot himself in the foot?

Anne Scott Tuesday 9 March, 2010 - 3:29 PM