All of the above, except the means testing for pensions (and I'm not in the $350,000 category). However, any pensioner who owns their own home has to pay for all the maintenance, rates etc. and $10,000 would not cover this in most cases.



Work for the dole should be reintroduced and the recipients of the dole should be forced to do community work, or have the dole discontinued. Mowing lawns for the old and/or infirm could be a start. Maybe some sense of work ethic would be instilled in these people. Currently dole recipients doing community work get an INCREASE in the dole - maybe pensioners could get an increase in the pension by doing community work???? Sorry that was facetious. Most of us would probably do more community service hours than the work for the dole scheme anyway.

Scrap the “Baby Bonus” completely. A ridiculous and money wasting bonus. Why should anyone be paid for having a baby?. People having been having children since the beggining of time without having to be paid, so whats so different now. I would want my child to know he was conceived because of love, not because of the money i was paid.



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Yes I would do this--and also Paternal payments--as I say if you have a child you should be there looking after it NOT off to work'



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Stop Immigration for at least 2 years. Give the kids in this Country a fair go at getting a job and take the strain of the welfare system. A Vast majority of immigrants cannot even speak English, go to any of the medical specialist centers in public hospitals and spend 4 hours waiting while the staff chase up interpereters for 60% of the patients.

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Yes Agree !



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Bring back conscription. This might stop a lot of crime, drugs and other nastiness that is rife.



Yes they need some discipline

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Immediate deportation for those causing turmoil or inciting riots. Let them take their toubles back to where they came from.

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YES !

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A much harder means test for pensioners, If you have over $350,000.00 in the bank, why would you need to receive the utilities allowance. Pay for it yourself and let those that really need it get an increase. The whole pension system should be overhauled so that those with large amounts of cash are not entitled to a pension or any subsidies until such time as they are down to a certain level. I reckon that the most you should be allowed to have in savings is $10,000.00. . Its funny really, a lot of people i know have the maximum savings allowed, both singles and couples, and they are the ones who complain the most about not getting a big enough increase.If all the parasites were removed from the system, then perhaps those who really needed welfare would get a decent payment and better medical.

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NO I don't agree with that--$10.000 is not enough to have if you have to replace an item--I think the way it is now is fine (not that I have a great amount of money)

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Scrap spending on schools. With so many school holidays, public holidays, teachers only days etc etc, the kids only spend about 6 months a year actually in school.

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NO they need to spend on schools and hospitals--some of the schools are a real mess--and ALL of the hospitals are



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Thats a few of the things i would bring in. How about you?

Posted: 19 May 2009 11:17 PM[color=purple][/color]





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I would stop all the perks of the Pollies once they were out of office



I would up date the free dental system for those that are unable to afford private care



Make public health care more affordable--and also public hospital care.



Bring in a stricter law to come down hard on crimes--



Bring back discipline in schools



Make unacceptable behavior a criminal offense, even if they are juveniles.

thanks for the input so far. seems the harder means test does not appeal to some but i still believe that anyone with the present allowed limit, should be responsible for their own utilities and health payments etc. Just because they may have to pay mortgage, rates and replacement items is not a good enough reason to allow them to continue reaping the welfare benefits. most of us in rental or Government housing have to pay rent, water rates and replace items and we do not have large amounts of funds to fall back on. The interest that these people earn on their savings would probably cover all the above.



It is no good moaning that we do not get enough in the pension if we continue to allow the wealthy to keep taking what they do not need. Get rid of them and then the ones who really need the help should benefit more.

Children deserve good schools and teachers as we all deserve good hospital treatments.

To say only those in public housing deserve more because they have not saved for their old age and have less than $10,000 in the bank is sickening. They deserve no more no less than those who have saved and have a bit more in the nest egg and self support or partly do.!!!

Many went without muchly to buy a home for their twilight years and also have saved some security money (no not a mint by any means) but not just people living in public housing with less than $10,000 to their name deserve everything.

Some oldies can become oneyed green eyed monsters. with their gimme gimme gimme attitude. I know many who went for trips every year costing thousands of dollars (good on them) but they have to be satisfied with their lot now as many of us just lived carefully and now self support or partly do, or if on the pension do not growl about everyone else and expect everyone to just give to them as they are the poor poor people.

I know I went without many things to own my home and and save a few dollars--I have no where near the allowed amount--but good luck to those who do.