Retirement Age Mess

There you go! Pension age to go to 70 by 2035....its official. But, hang on, the baby boomer bubble will just about be over by 2050. Why, because they will be dead! So altering the age won't make any difference to the budget "emergency" we are supposed to be suffering right now. By 2035 I'll be in my late 80's, if still around. The older children of baby boomers will be in their mid 60's. Sorry kids, you will need to keep working until you are at least 70 (just like you're dad will anyway). You guessed it. You've been Abbotted!

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/retirement-age-rise-to-70-by-2035-joe-hockey-announces-20140502-zr318.html

Even the Mighty Can Believe!

     BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers announced today that he favoured moving to a carbon tax regime as a means of placing a price on carbon. His announcement caused much consternation in both business and political circles, although it was supported by Professor Ross Garnaut. Some, however preferred the ostrich approach!


The Abbott frowned, then shook his head,

"What is that man doing?

He's sprouting forth about a carbon tax,

His reasoning suspect and seriously lax!"

The Abbott just sat there spewing!

King Brown perked up and looked around,

"I can't believe what I'm just hearing!

The BHP head is a greenie at heart

With a price on carbon he wants, now, to start!"

And King Brown commenced some stirring.

I Will Return......I Have...

      I guess it is fair to say that enough is enough. After all, one cannot rest...and rest...and rest...while there is work to be done.

     Yes, the election is over, the book is out, and it would be nice to just sit a while. Alas, it cannot be so.  We are served by people who must be observed and commented upon. They are unable to simply do a job and do it well. They insist on finding the hard road; they insist on batting into the wind.  So...............

Did you really think he'd gone away,

Election over, he'd had his say?

Or did you pray he was done and dusted,

Gone for good, pen poised but rusted?

Well, it would be nice to relax and rest,

No turmoil twisting with political jest!

Yet, as politics continues with thrust and parry

Alas, poor poet, may neither linger nor tarry.

Each night, elected ones, while you hit the sack,

Someone is working, be warned, the Battler is back.

Election 2010 - V Day Plus 17 - Closure Part 1

Today, 7 September 2010, is the day that a decision was made by the three independents as to who would be Prime Minister.  This decision, some seventeen days following the vote, was the result of some very hard work by all participants.  They should all be commended.

Across the nation there was agitation,
You could smell it in the air.
The tension of sublime anticipation,
This day a decision to declare!

The Three Wise Men did meet again,
To frame their point of view,
One declaring for the Abbott, then
The Ranga surged ahead with two!

This is the way our Election ends, neither whimper nor banging loud,
And the patient Men of Wisdom have served the nation proud!

Election 2010 - V Day Plus 16

Why are we waiting?  I guess we know the answer to that.  There is no doubt that the Independents are doing what needs to be done.  Its a task they didn't seek or expect, but they do seem to have lifted for the game.  Pity others haven't been so obliging!

The Abbott puffed out his chest
The Three Wise Men to be abused.
"How can you contemplate that leftist lot,
When to us you should be fused!"

The Three Wise Men just shook their heads,
Moving forward without a fumble,
Ignoring the pathetic, pouting and posturing
Of Pride before its stumble.

Meanwhile, the Ranga in private forum
Lined up her ducks with quiet decorum.

A Walrus On Black Holes.

Thursday the 2nd of September, 12 days after the election, continued to see Australia waiting upon a result.  However, we did have confirmed, finally, by Treasury that the Coalition election promises failed the test of accuracy when assessed by Treasury.  Further detail can be read here http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/01/3000068.htm

"Behold" Walrus to the Abbott said,
"I speak of many things,
Of promises and budget cuts
And pigs, airborne, with wings."

The Walrus twirled his whiskers,
Shrugged, then dived into the sea.
"I'd rather chase these little fishies
Than let you on a spending spree."

The Abbott spat and cursed, his plans all in a tatter,
And sent another email to that mad, North Queesland, hatter

Election 2010 - V Day Plus 6 - Still Waiting!

The Gang of Five reduced to three,
Then back to five again,
Depending if you count the Green,
Which might make four, just then!

But number four is not quite sure
Just how to play this game,
Though, as the new chum he's keen to make
His mark within the frame.

Yet, with all this did we notice four Diggers who left the stage,
More Aussie tears to spoil the ink upon this page!

Stand Up, Stand Up....For What?

There is an evil in the air
As this election progresses.
An evil image of despair,
The innocent, it caresses.

It weaves its web of deep deceit
While breading on the hate,
That's born of fear and deep defeat,
The result of flawed debate.

The innocent, worn, defeated gather
To march toward their hell!

The 2010 Election - Week 1

This is the week that was!

A discourse on population became an immigration hoax,
While adding to the fear campaign over desperate folk in boats!
We heard about a deficit and the chance of growing debt,
Yet not too much of the GFC, or that it hasn't hit us, yet.
One Leader wants the NBN with web speed rated tops,
And the other will have a telephone, with calls through dear old POTS.

So, the first week ends without much ticker;
We're looking forward, but the fog is thicker.
Perhaps I'll go and just follow twitter!
_______________________________________________

GFC - Global Financial Crises
NBN - National Broadband Network
POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service

The Great Debate - Almost

"Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will tonight go head-to-head in the only televised debate of the election campaign.

The hour-long debate will be held at the National Press Club in Canberra with both leaders facing questions from a panel journalists after making a short opening statement."  ABC News

The Great Debate is almost here,

No doubt to enhance electoral cheer.

Will it inform, or perhaps enlighten,

Or will it work to dull and frighten

A people poised to place a vote,

A people ready to choose, or smote

Those who rule and demand more taxes

While punching "porkies" by email and faxes,

And drive us up the bleedin' wall?

Ah, we wait, excited, for our leaders to enthral!

A Clunker Of An Idea

ABC News reports that Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, today announced plans to pay cash as an incentive for people to get rid of their old vehicles.

When making the announcement in Brisbane, Ms Gillard commented that "People will go to their car dealership they will negotiate, get the price that they can get for their new car, their rebate will be paid when their old car is scrapped," she said.

"The dealer will be responsible for doing that. We will have Aus Industry oversighting this."

They used to be called "rust buckets",

Now "clunker" is their name

And they are now, to one and all,

The new weapon in the climate game!

"If we get these clunkers off the road

And replaced with something new,

We'll reduce our carbon by huge amounts

(And boost new car sales, too!)."

And so, thus led by those without conviction,

We shuffle off toward extinction.

Gillard Climate Policy - Policy Free Zone

Prime Minister Gillard today announced her climate change policy for the forthcoming election.  I thought we were having an election to appoint our decision makers.  Now we add on an unelected committee of eager beavers to make "claytons" decisions our Parliament is to gutless to make.  Whoopee!
The Battler recommends this link as food for thought http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/23/2962335.htm

A committee! That's what we'll do.
One hundred & fifty of our brave and true
Who will have twelve months to find an answer,
To come to grips with that carbon cancer.

Naturally, they'll report and recommend
While we, in Parliament, consider, then send
Our response to be reviewed
By "experts", with expertise imbued!

The people, shocked, in horror cried
And the world did nothing, while nature died!

Election Armistice - Another Fallen

Yesterday, the momentum of the Australian election campaign took a break.  By mutual consent, the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader paused their campaigns while they attended the funeral of Private Nathan Bewes, who was recently killed in Afghanistan.  This is a fairly recent tradition adopted by Australian political leaders.  It is to be commended,.

In the shadow of their humble grief

Joined by loss beyond belief

The people gather at the dawning

To remember, and do the mourning

For a life so freely given - we are beholden.

And the mighty came to share the caring

A day departed from campaign blaring

With a shoulder shared, a tear descending

Another day of tribal remembering

Of a life so freely given - or was it stolen?

Election 2010 - Homelessness A Neglected Issue? Not Many - Too Few!

Although only in its early stages, our Federal election campaign does not appear to have made an issue of mental illness and homelessness.  Perhaps it is on the horizon, who knows?  One would hope so, for it is true that elections, generally, are magnets for the big ticket items, the wow factor, the sexy issue of the day.
Perhaps there is something, waiting in the shadows, to be announced down the track, by someone who cares.  Yet, there is no doubt that, in the eyes of some, this issue is one that doesn't attract votes.

A cry for help untended, a heartless act of folly!
The homeless and the helpless, hanging on by dubious thread,
The weary, wronged and beaten - defeated but not quite dead;
Those hidden by the system, to keep them out of view,
Their votes so unimportant, not many - too few!

And all their songs of melancholy
Waif-whisper, oh so pensive,
Slipping, quietly missed, by the oh so inattentive.
Wishing, waiting, wanting  - for notice, just on cue,
Alas, so unimportant, not many - too few!


Homelessness Australia
The Australian on Mental Health
AMA - Mental Health

Political Petulance - Aussie Style

During her recent speech and Q & A session at the National Press Club, new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was questioned on the events of the evening prior to her elevation to the position.  The culprit who leaked the alleged details of a meeting on that night is unknown, but there were only three people present.

"Mummy, mummy, she broke my toy!"
"Mummy, mummy, she doesn't care!"
"Mummy, mummy," cried the tearful boy,
"Now she's sitting in my favourite chair!"

Now, this little boy, a child of Christ,
Believed, full well, he'd be forgiven
When he took the knife and shunned advice
Deep in her back the blade was driven!

With a silent grin he bowed his head
And prayed his prayers beside his bed.