DOES FATHER KNOW BEST?
Does he do it deliberately, doesn’t think, or just doesn’t care?
Opposition leader Tony Abbott again finds himself up to his neck in sexist soup after a comment which appears to refer to Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s childlessness.
The latest tit-for-tat goes like this:
Yesterday Treasurer Wayne Swan cut to the baby bonus for second and third children from $5,000 to $3,000.
Extra cash was not needed because a cot and pram bought for a first child did not have to be bought again for subsequent children, Mr. Swan said.
Tony Abbott disagreed on the Seven Network this morning.
“One child is still in the cot when the next one comes along. One child is still in the pram when the next one comes along,” he said.
“So you actually need to get an extra cot or a double-sized pram.”
“I think if the Government was a bit more experienced in this area, they wouldn’t come out with glib lines like that.”
The PM was quick to jump on the comment. She said on ABC radio: “Well I think Mr. Abbott can explain what he meant by that line.”
So what did he mean by it?
Nothing directly about the PM’s lack of experience as a mother, Abbott’s office said.
“He was criticising the Government for its out of touch statement that the more kids you have the less it costs families,” said the spokesman.
However, that explanation hasn’t stopped the Twitterati hopping in with comments like:
“Tony Abbott has another crack at Julia Gillard for being childless. And he wonders why women have a problem with him?”
You have just insulted all women who have no kids @TonyAbbottMHR along with our PM @JuliaGillard You really one sexist pig!!
There was also this image doing the rounds pointing out that deputy Opposition leader, Julie Bishop doesn’t have kids either. Perhaps rendering the whole argument as a waste of space .
Other reactions can be summed up as “meh”.
It’s probably rather pointless to tally up how many offspring the respective cabinet and shadow cabinets have between them.
And the size of your brood doesn’t exactly make you an expert on cots, strollers or prams.
So what does Mr. Abbott mean by saying that his side of the chamber has “more experience in in this area”?
What’s he getting at… and does it matter?
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73 Responses to this article
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Robert October 23, 2012
What does Mr. Abbott mean by saying that his side of the chamber has “more experience in this area”?
Well, they did come up with the memorable patriotic line, One for mum, one for dad and one for the country!
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Susan Taylor October 23, 2012
I’m sorry I fail to believe it was another slip of the tongue, these comments from Mr Abbott just happen way too often. He’s managed to keep them “down” over the past couple of years but its in his DNA to slip out the loaded one-liners. He loves nothing more than to goad and needle. This man is not fit to run this country – may it never ever happen.
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Jill McDougall October 23, 2012
We’re copping a lot of sexism in South Australia at the moment. The Adelaide Advertiser referred to the Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond as ‘Izzy’ in a headline the other day. Sooo demeaning and disrespectful!
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Mel W October 23, 2012
It’s interesting that he assumes everyone has their kids close together too. Maybe they did in the past but now people are just as likely to leave a couple of years in between each kid as the Mum gets back to work for a while.
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Rosie October 23, 2012
Mel W: Spot on! Exactly what I thought when I read it – not many have their family so close together anymore. Could he be out of touch on this too? Oh – and of course it was directed at Gillard so , of course, she should question the meaning.
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Jenny October 23, 2012
Well, as Tony is a “good” Catholic boy, he probably did have his children close together, and since the Catholic church says no to contraception he probably expects everyone else should do too! As an aside, I had my first two children 15 months apart, and was able to cope very well without duplicating anything. I had to buy some more nappies to do both children, but that was a relatively minor cost.
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susan October 23, 2012
Tony Abbot’s team seem to be constructing a straw man here….”.the prime Minister cries sexism whenever her policies are questioned”
I love this website so was really disapointed to see you going along with that.She did not DEMAND he explain himself,if you listen to her entire statement,it was more of a”what he says is his business,let him explain.”this is our policy……..The ABC just did the same thing,shame on them.
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lynne October 23, 2012
It sounds like a further attempt to ingratiate himself with mothers – that he’s a nappy-changing, pram-pushing kinda Dad…
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Lucille October 23, 2012
Abbott never gives up with his either stupid or deliberate sexist remarks. And unless you have a multiple birth you do only have one bassinet, then a cot – a pram, then a pusher. I don’t know of any parent who has put a second new born child in a cot! And, damn it, it is a choice to have kids.
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Joni October 23, 2012
What;’s the obsession with Abbott all about???
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Caroline B October 23, 2012
All part of the ongoing dog-whistle campaign of this spiteful little man. Imply the nastiest, but keep a ‘plausible deniability’ about what you mean, should it start hitting the fan, (most recent example, echoing Alan Jones’ vile comments re JG’s father in parliament, then the ingenuous, wide-eyed ‘oh, that’s not what I meant’ semi-denial afterwards).
For the record, my 2 children were born close together & it definitely is cheaper the 2nd time around. Re-used the same clothes, same breast pump, same bottles etc. Needed a new car seat & bought a double-pram 2nd hand. Reduced baby bonus should cover all that & more, & you don’t have kids for the bonus anyway, so I think it’s a fair move to cut something like that to fund something like the Gonski Report down the track.
For the record, I couldn’t give a rat’s arse whether a PM or MP has kids or not. It’s the morality of their policies that interests me – do they have the same basic moral outlook as me? Are they promoting a framework for a better future for all Australians, not the privileged few? Are they addressing major problems like Climate Change?
Abbott & his negative sniping fails completely on all counts, but I see JG & her side of politics not perfect, but doing the best they can, in the circumstances they’re in with a v slim majority & a v hostile press.
God forbid this appalling man gets within reach of the PM-ship.
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Rosie October 23, 2012
Caroline B: Excellent comments – that third paragraph nails it so well.
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anne louise October 23, 2012
Beg to differ Rosie. I think the 5th.
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Jen C October 23, 2012
Interesting comment by Abbott. I had my 3 children relatively close together and for my second child we really had to buy nothing at all. With my first child we bought a pram that would convert to a double planning ahead and our second baby slept in a small bed next to us in our bedroom until our eldest was old enough to transfer to a bed and the baby into the cot. For my third child we did by a new pram as the other one was very worn – and a new booster car seat for my older child. Of note is that the price of many baby items including cots prams etc have come down substantially with the higher dollar and increased competition with online suppliers. The items I purchased way back in 06 are about 20 to 30% cheaper today. I’m not sure who is out of touch mr Abbott.
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Kerry C October 23, 2012
Agree. There are so many items that you do not have to fork out for the 2nd time around. It’s fairly obvious that Tony sent “the little woman” out shopping for baby items if he thinks everything has to be bought again.
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Lucille October 23, 2012
…and PS, I heard you the first time Joe – three kids under five! I can only wonder whether you just found out six years ago how you make kids, by that remark.
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AnotherRob October 23, 2012
Wendy, I think Susan hae been reading the HeraldSun website articles that state under the headline “PM demands Abbott explain baby jibe” – “THE Prime Minister has demanded an explanation after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott appeared to point to Julia Gillard’s lack of experience as a mother when he attacked a key mini-budget measure today”.
But then the Murdock MSM HeraldSun has been pushing its own agenda to denigrate the PM at every opportunity. It is not the PM that is overplaying a hand it is the usual garbage from the geriatric Murdock MSM that does this, so long live the independent bloggers.-
susan October 23, 2012
ABC 774 11 a.m. news.
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Caroline B October 23, 2012
@ Wendy – understand how JG could (& no doubt will) be portrayed as overplaying her hand re sexism, but he just keeps right on making these comments, so what else should she do? Personally, I think it’s better to keep calling him out on these types of comments & showing him up for the chauvinist pig that he is, than ‘suffer in silence’ as has been done in the past.
I’d lose respect for any woman (incl JG) who played the sexism card when it’s not there, but when it’s there in spades, you have to address it.
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Alexx October 23, 2012
I hope Abbott is still Leader of the Liberals next election. Even the most conservative women will grit their teeth and quietly vote for anyone but Liberal.
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Kate October 23, 2012
I don’t think she’s overplaying her hand, Wendy. I listened to that interview this morning and she was asked the question by Sabra Lane (I think) and that was the answer she gave. I don’t know what else she could have said. In fact, I think she did a pretty good job of letting it hang in the air. Give him enough rope…
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Harriet October 23, 2012
Even at $3K for the second kid, you can still upgrade your pram, get another cot and have more than enough change left over for a spankin’ new plasma telly.
In all seriousness, though – if you’re only having children for the money, you’re completely mad. They cost a LOT more to run than even $5,000. My two are three years apart. I had to get a lot more stuff than I anticipated with #2, but the cost of another car seat, a bigger pram and the other bits and bobs that needed replacing was well under $3,000.
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K October 23, 2012
@Caroline B – you said it ALL for me! thanks! – and I totally agree that JG is wise and needs to address his continual underhanded snipes! – turning the other cheek is just getting tired!
I’m so angry about this vile excuse for an Opposition leader – he claims he is in touch – and yet he takes much of his counsel from two old childless men! – Pel and Jones! grrrrr -
Rhoda October 23, 2012
I’d call this nit-picking. I doubt there would be many Parliamentarians that would have a clue about the cost of buying a stroller or a cot and anyway you can buy them second-hand. Many are handed down through the extended family. Shows TA can’t make his argument and the Prime Minister is right to sum it up as a dig at her.
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sue October 23, 2012
Wendy, I think you have misunderstood the PM, by saying she quickly jumped on the comment. From the transcript after listening to Abbott on Chanel 7 ,Sabre Lane asked for comment and the PM replied accordingly
“SABRA LANE: Does the Opposition Leader have a point here, does the leadership group of Labor understand the pressures of families with children?
JULIA GILLARD: Well I think Mr Abbott can explain what he meant by that line. On families and pressures with children, the Government is certainly working with Australian families and we understand many families are struggling to make ends meet, and for example they face costs when the kids a ……”
Meanwhile Abbott on radio is now adding to the controversy by saying “if she wants an apology, I’ll say sorry”.
Tony give up on the “she” and use the appropriate title, PM. -
Steve October 23, 2012
I raised three children without asking the government to support my life choices.
Scrap the baby bonus!
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Lindy October 23, 2012
I don’t like the comment that the Prime Minister was quick to jump onto the comment by Mr.Abbott, she was asked a question and briefly answered and then went on to discuss the assistance to families by this Government. This is one of the main problems with the media and commentators and that is that they don’t quite relate the the full story of what has occured and therefore it changes the context and gives a false impression. We have now seen Mr.Abbott saying that he will apologise etc. if that is what the Prime Minister wants and no doubt on the news tonight this false story will get a run.
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helenbea October 23, 2012
Quite agree Lindy! The mass media is really showing its true allegiance with the way they are reporting these stories. The truth, the whole truth, is not being reported as the mainstream media pursue their own political agenda.
I really see the need for vigilance by all those concerned with the misrepresentation in news reporting. The gender issue is just the tip of the iceberg, opening up the discourse on ‘news reporting’ and access to information.
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Jane October 23, 2012
Talk about Foot in Mouth disease – here’s hoping Abbott continues on this streak for another 12 months, allowing JG a clean win next year. Perhaps then the Libs will rethink their choice in Abbott as their leader and replace him with M.Turnball, who at least gives intelligent, well rounded responses.
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janet October 23, 2012
Had 2 children 12 months apart, 1 cot, 1 pram, just needed a booster seat. AND we survived without the ‘baby bonus’.
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Jackie October 23, 2012
TA cannot help himself, he just puts his foot in his mouth time & time again, he has got to go! He knows what he is saying, nothing is accidental. I have 4 children but it makes no difference to me if the PM hasnt any, she would be surrounded by advisers who have children. I cant imagine many male pollies would have much of a clue about the costs of prams & cots anyway, my hubby doesnt.
Anyway I find the whole he said, she said thing another distraction from the real issues, the government is struggling to stay in surplus & cutting back wherever they can.It begs the question, is a surplus that important?
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Lindy October 23, 2012
I just watched ABC News and sure enough they played the Prime Minister’s answer to Sabra Lane but not the question and Mr.Abbott saying that if she wants an apology he’ll give it and then Mr.Hockey havig a free kick about this. The wrong impression is therefore perpetuated by this biased media.
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Jennifer October 23, 2012
The choice to have children should not be because there is a “Baby Bonus”. I know that when I had my two sons there was no such bonus and we survived just fine.
Tony Abbott only knows one way to respond, that’s with negativity & stupidity – will we see him bring his wife out to defend him again? -
Bec M October 23, 2012
Comments defending one or another side are somewhat pointless. Essentially Julia and ALP do not support families and parents; loss of dependent spouse tax rebate, single parents loss of social security and onto the dole if they cannot find work that suits their children and them; loss of baby bonus; push to get all parents working and children into institutional care such as child care, rather than parents raising their kids. Tony Abbott on the other hand needs to debate the issues and not the woman, if that is possible.
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Amanda October 23, 2012
The media is hyping it up. If enough people get sick of hearing about every sexist slip, they will forget about the underlying issues and the male dominated media will go about their business secure in the knowledge that they have maintained the status quo.
A great opportunity has been provided for us to take the gender debate forward and male dominated media is making sure we get drowned out – trivialising a very real issue along the way, and worse, trivialising the office of our first female Prime Minister. Shame on them.
I also wonder if it is not a deliberate ploy by the Liberal Party. Seriously, how can Abbott make so many supposedly unintended sexist statements? He can’t be that stupid. Can he? I am beginning to think he is being advised to keep it going – it is almost like it is scripted. The comments are just vague enough to be open to interpretation.
In a year from now we will all sit back and wonder what the hell happened.
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Ella October 23, 2012
Youre right on the money Amanda, its a cynical move on the part of the oposition. Ive already heard some men saying “enough of this sexist stuff, change the tune already”.
And my answer to this is “if you want the PM to stop playing the sexist card, stop dealing it to her”.
We need to stay focused and not let the oposition muddy the water to the real issues.
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Ella October 23, 2012
The PM and the rest of us, have had enough of the negative rubbish coming from the oposition and TA.
TA needs to be held to account at every inappropriate utterance, since he does not engage his brain before speaking.
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Lisa October 23, 2012
Tony Abbott continues to make a fool of himself yet again, let’s hope he doesn’t become our next PM or we’ll all look bloody foolish to the rest of the world!
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Ella October 23, 2012
You’re so right Lisa, TA makes a tit of himself every time he opens his mouth, just the thought he could be PM is sickenning.
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JoanneH October 23, 2012
I am tired of the media always giving Tony the benefit of the doubt when it is obvious he is being a smart-Alec.
He wouldn’t need to give apologies (mostly faux) if he didn’t behave badly in the first place.Joe Hockey sounded very silly trying to compare a Baby-Bonus adjustment with the Chinese ‘One-Baby’ Policy, and Kevin Andrews predicts dramatic population number losses.
Is this what we have to put up with all the way to next election? -
Cheryle Beattie October 23, 2012
Tony Abbott really has lost touch with the community at large. As for the baby bonus $3000 is not to be sneezed at…. It is peoples choice to have children and I am all for helping young couples . Speaking from experience 6 children… you do not have to buy all new furniture and accessories for each child. People should be grateful for anything given to them…
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Caroline B October 23, 2012
Totally right Lindy, Joanne etc – the way that political debate has been framed & skewed since JG came to power is breathtaking.
The press gallery reaction after her fabulous Abbott smackdown the other week is one of the most blatant examples, plus the multi-page photo spreads when she fell over in India (rightly called out by David Marr on Insiders as deliberate attempts to humiliate), then yesterday when the polls show her surging ahead, front page of the OZ has the headline “ALP could win under Rudd’ – trying to undermine her yet again. It’s like they cannot bear to report anything she or her govt does in a positive light.
I’m all for political debate & critical commentary, but when everything that JG or the ALP does is slammed &/ or continually taken out of context, how can that be taken as serious analysis or commentary?
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Sly Place October 23, 2012
At the risk of sounding overly susceptible to conspiracy theories I would venture to say that Mr Abbott made this comment very deliberately, knowing that the PM and others would call him on its very obvious meaning giving him yet another opportunity to suggest that Labor is playing the gender card against him. Looking at the comments by readers of the Daily Telegraph, the ploy is working a treat.
I thought Howard was the master of the disingenuous, ‘what, me?’ comment having quite obviously given a nod to his fellow travellers while protesting his innocence. It seems his favourite student has learnt well.
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anne louise October 24, 2012
So very true Sly Place.
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Me October 23, 2012
Surely the Liberal party has a plan B re their leader for the next election and Tony is just keeping the seat warm. Surely.
Malcolm Turnbull?
If its Julia Bishop, she needs to step up and do a better job than she is doing; her response re the PM’s mysogyny speech was weak in my view. Ms Bishop defended Mr Abbott’s personal and political record on women, describing him as a loving son, husband, brother and father of three daughters – doesn’t mean he’s not sexist!
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Ella October 23, 2012
Dear @Me, I do hope you’re right about the Libs having a Plan B, because Tony is a joke.
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anne louise October 24, 2012
Perish the thought of Julie Bishop!! There’s also the possibility of them wheeling out that nice Mr (Trust me) Hockey. Still, my money’s on Malcolm Turnbull.
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Jo October 23, 2012
I think Julie needs to just get on with the job she is being paid for. All this nit picking and bitching between the parties takes the spot light off the real problems and that is the running of the country. Anyone who jumps into politics and expects to make friends is a fool. Suck it up, toughen up and rise above it.
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anne louise October 24, 2012
Funny thing is that I think you’ll find that Julia HAS been getting on with the job. Do some research, Jo.
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Carole/m October 23, 2012
What a set up.
All nicely coordinated with our disgracefully biased media.Another pop- up head shot on TV Tonight for ” Phony Tony”.
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RobynMarie October 23, 2012
I’m disapointed that there isn’t more like Steve. Scrap it altogether!
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Margot October 23, 2012
@JoanneH – exactly! In fact I found Hockey’s aside about the China One-Child Policy even more appalling than Abbott’s spiteful little jibe at the PM. This is not constructive debate. It’s just another example of the Opposition’s bully boy tactics.
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ellenni October 23, 2012
i cant help agreeing with those who want to scrap the baby bonus. $5000 sounds like a lot of money but its a one off payment and the cost of raising a child is a lot more than that and whether you are a proactive parent or not you are a parent as long as you both live.
GET RID OF ABBOT HE IS AN EMBARRASMENT.
i want to know what the long term plan is to get this country moving. the minerals boom wont last for ever but why should this lot of pollies care. they will have their big fat supers to get them through – but will they? who knows what changes will occur when the mineral boom is over. the pundits tell us it has a finite life and then what? -
Amandar October 23, 2012
Wasn’t the bonus a liberal policy? I seem to recall it being sold to the masses as a financial incentive to encourage a baby boom by supporting parents financially in the first year of a childs birth. Strange to now hear the liberals argue about new prams and cots! Have they forgotten their own policy? Why don’t they argue that instead of trivials. Idiots.
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Pappinbarra Fox October 24, 2012
I saw the PMs statement as quoted above but not what prompted it. I got the impression that it was made in response to a question from a journo and in my mind it was akin to saying I am not commenting on what Mr Abbott says – ask him to explain it. This is a very good ploy – just ignore the fool, let others analyse the thread. But then I heard the LOTO saying something along the lines of “If she wants me to apologise I’ll say sorry” BUT I never heard the PM ask for an apology or anything else for that matter – she gave the equivalent of a “no comment” – so where does the LOTO get off making out the PM was grovelling for an apology?
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Zelda October 24, 2012
It’s Tony being Tony again. He has no idea that his patriarchal training is affecting his foot wandering into his mouth.
Patriarchy is a silent infection we have in our society long ingrained from the past conditioning. “Fathers” have always assumed the authority. I honestly think it is is complete innocence that they remain ignorant to how it works.
And on that front shouldn’t we stop fathers “giving away” their daughters at weddings too ?
Patriarchy has been a dirty word long linked to radical feminism, but it will be alive and well as long as we ignore it and it’s good to see the push is on.
Defined :
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/patriarchy -
Carole/m October 24, 2012
@ Ellenni
Obviously your not as old as I am. For all of my youth ,Australia was said to be ” riding on the sheeps back”.
The major part of our economy was agriculture.When Malcolm Fraser lost the election in 1983 ????, Bob Hawke became PM & soon realised
that the country was ” almost bankrupt “.Hawke & Keating then set about modernising &
reforming the Australian Economy.Thanks to them, we have had 21 years of growth in our economy.
Mining is the largest part of our economy but
is nowhere near the largest employer.Agriculture is next largest part of the economy followed by Financial Services / Manufacturing and so on.
The point I’m trying to make is that we are not a ” one trick pony” & the resources in the ground & the demand for them are a long way from
running out.My other point is that we are a smart & very resourceful people, how do you think we got this far……..apparently the wealthiest people in the world. Have faith.
I do agree with you regarding Baby Bonus &
with your opinion on Abbott……he creeps me out. -
Marnie October 24, 2012
It is not just baby items (or plasma tvs) that the baby bonus helps with. My daughter just had her fourth child and the baby bonus helped fund a larger (secondhand) car so that she could transport them. With the changes to the road safety regulations and special seating for school age kids it was a godsend to have that money available. They keep making new regulations without any thought of how low income families can afford to comply.
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maggie October 24, 2012
In our area very soon after the baby has arrived either mum or dad or both are sporting very big and colourful tattoos making the tattoo shop very wealthy
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Zelda October 24, 2012
That’s the thing….you can give people money for the right reasons but you can’t make them use it wisely. There are those who think it should be given in a voucher to ensure it is spent wisely.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had life skills training in our education system ?
Money management might be lesson one ?
Think how much would ultimately be saved !
And it always amazes me that the hardest job in the world – ie parenting – requires the least qualifications.
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Kate October 24, 2012
Does it matter how the baby bonus is spent? So what if a lump sum buy s a family a luxury, be it plasma tv, a holiday, and yes even tattoos they (as a family) could not otherwise afford? So what if they don’t spend it in a way that you (me?) approves of? When and why did we get so judgemental? It would be lovely if everyone who received the bonus spent it in the “approved” way, but human beings don’t work like that.
The things I really want answered are: 1) Why do we have a baby bonus at all? and 2) If we do have one, why isn’t it means tested?
Surely the funds should go to those who really need them, to do the best with the money as they know how?
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Zelda October 24, 2012
As mentioned above – the baby bonus was instigated to encourage people to have more kids to ensure a future workforce – one of Peter Costello’s ideas. “One for mum and dad and one for the country” I think is how he said it….
The idea was purely to create a future for business, not to help families.
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Geoff October 24, 2012
Tony could be accused of grabbing at straws for this argument. I would suggest he’s grabbing at turds…..par for the course.
He’s the most unfit politician I know to lead this great country. -
Carole/m October 24, 2012
It would seem that parents receiving the Baby Bonus have now been put into an Elite Club with
Aged Pensioners and judged to be incapable of spending it responsibly , eg. Abbott claiming pensioners would spend any increase in their payments on Alcohol / Gambling / Cigarettes.While I don’t agree with the Baby Bonus , it’s a bit rich telling people how to spend it.
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louise turner October 26, 2012
I think everyone needs to calm down a bit here. With all the carry on it seems some reverse sexism is now in play! Some things really should just be left to go through to the keeper. All this Tony bagging is a little harsh, after all he is only a man!
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Steve MacNeil October 30, 2012
No need to read this article after the smart arse headline.
Really, you people are pathetic.
