Is this the funniest gaffe so far from the Abott govmint?

[VERYSTORMY]

Actually not a thing to poke fun at as you may think. Many geoscientists have been jumping up and down about this for a long time - decades. The earth is officially in an interglacial period. We have not geared the earth at all of glacial and are concentrating on the prospect of continued warming, when actually there is little evidence that warming is likely to prove anywhere near as disastrous as the media portray.

 

But what about climate cooling?

 

Are we ready for falling sea levels and interminably drab summers? Something must be done??!

 

Radical solutions are called for.

 

We might need to trap some of that heat from all those (admittedly aberrant) bush fires we've been having these last 6 years. Or maybe turn all those ghastly offensive wind turbines into giant fan heaters.

 

And when sea levels fall, won't that join Australia to Asia again......what about the boat people??

[Pumpkin]

Its so not true that the less well off use less fuel that just such a ridiculous statement. Poorer people do not buy small ecomic cars because they are more expensive to buy than the large old gas guzzlers.

Has anyone who make these absurd comment actually had any dealings with less well off people? What about farmers living in the sticks farm workers on really low wages! That comment by Joe Hockey was the biggest gaff I've heard from a politician in many years .

 

The majority of the population are not farmers living in the sticks. Yes there are these kind of exceptions, but what is it, 90% of the Australian population live near the coast near the major cities. The majority of the low earners, just like the majority of all earners, live in metropolitan areas. And they use public transport or cheap and economical cars. To say that the statement is untrue because of a minority of farmers does not make sense.

[WeegieDave]

Doesn't matter if their car is cheaper and economical. If you earn a low wage then per percentage you are more than likely to be out of pocket per percentage of salary than a high earner... It's not rocket science.

To me, it seems the people who voted this government in will defend them to the core no matter what bullsh!t they spout!

[Que Sera Sera]

The majority of the population are not farmers living in the sticks. Yes there are these kind of exceptions, but what is it, 90% of the Australian population live near the coast near the major cities. The majority of the low earners, just like the majority of all earners, live in metropolitan areas. And they use public transport or cheap and economical cars. To say that the statement is untrue because of a minority of farmers does not make sense.

 

There are plenty of low earners driving cars as part of their work too, I'm one of them there are thousands of home helps, care aides, cleaners, Dog walkers, Supermarket workers, production line workers, the list goes on.

[Xenon4017]

Doesn't matter if their car is cheaper and economical. If you earn a low wage then per percentage you are more than likely to be out of pocket per percentage of salary than a high earner... It's not rocket science.

To me, it seems the people who voted this government in will defend them to the core no matter what bullsh!t they spout!

 

But the same is true whether you're talking about buying petrol, insurance, food, clothes whatever. That what poor means: less disposable income. But, as Joe has tried to explain, the absolute amount of dollars contributed by the rich would be more, because they use more fuel. The reason they use more fuel is because they've got the money to buy it. The great thing about this tax is that it targets those who consume the most, and it's really difficult to avoid paying it, unlike income tax. Your accountant can't help you out if you drive off without paying. And it's not really an essential in the same way that food is. Some people live without a car, but nobody survives without food.

[Xenon4017]

There are plenty of low earners driving cars as part of their work too, I'm one of them there are thousands of home helps, care aides, cleaners, Dog walkers, Supermarket workers, production line workers, the list goes on.

 

Let's do the sums on your case. What do you spend on fuel per week, and what do you spend on rego, maintenance and depreciation? (Last 3 per year, I guess). Let's see how much this levy will affect you.

[Que Sera Sera]

Let's do the sums on your case. What do you spend on fuel per week, and what do you spend on rego, maintenance and depreciation? (Last 3 per year, I guess). Let's see how much this levy will affect you.

 

I earn approx $120 per week. My petrol is $50 per week. I do the job because I love it and can afford to do it because my OH is on an exceptionally good wage and guess what? He doesn't use a car at all, so zero fuel. Now I'm not complaining for myself but if I wasn't lucky enough to have a high earning OH I'd be stuuffed. Also what about the kids clubs and parties etc etc I suppose being poor parents shouldn't be driving to these.

[MARYROSE02]

Not much of a gaffe when you compare it to 'Pink batts, schools, NBN, boats', etc, etc, by the previous Government, and how many people have died as a result of Liberal gaffes?

 

And of course, at a time when Tony Abbott has been occupied trying to achieve some kind of justice for our citizens killed on the MAS jet, and worrying about terrorism, who cares if Hockey puts his foot in it.

[Paul1Perth]

The majority of the population are not farmers living in the sticks. Yes there are these kind of exceptions, but what is it, 90% of the Australian population live near the coast near the major cities. The majority of the low earners, just like the majority of all earners, live in metropolitan areas. And they use public transport or cheap and economical cars. To say that the statement is untrue because of a minority of farmers does not make sense.

 

I think you are a bit off the mark with public transport usage. Unless you work in the City and live near a good bus route or train route you are stuffed. I live near a very good bus route that takes me straight to the train station but I work on Stirling Highway, so it means going into Perth a walk across town and a bus out. Just not feasible so I drive. I wouldn't like to think I would be having to come to work on public transport from a lot of the new estates the other side of Wanneroo road that have sprung up, it would be a real drag without a car out there, even getting to shops or taking the kids to school would be hard.

[Harpodom]

Standard response from you, to deflect an argument by saying 'the other side are worse'. Just like Australia isn't racist because 'there are other places much worse'. Or innocent Gazan children being killed by the IDF isn't an issue cos 'look at Syria!'.

 

Is it a lib thing to always 'aspire' to the lowest common denominator? Or just a MaryRose thing?

 

Must be depressing to habitually condone such low standards

 

Not much of a gaffe when you compare it to 'Pink batts, schools, NBN, boats', etc, etc, by the previous Government, and how many people have died as a result of Liberal gaffes?

 

And of course, at a time when Tony Abbott has been occupied trying to achieve some kind of justice for our citizens killed on the MAS jet, and worrying about terrorism, who cares if Hockey puts his foot in it.

[Guest Guest66881]

The guys funny full stop, scratch that he's friggin hilarious so are his crew, one with a waist as big as his gob the other showing a craving for stupid dresses and poor hair do's and a back burner thought of leadership.

Toss pots the lot of em.

[Harpodom]

What is it with Australia and climate change denial?

 

Actually not a thing to poke fun at as you may think. Many geoscientists have been jumping up and down about this for a long time - decades. The earth is officially in an interglacial period. We have not geared the earth at all of glacial and are concentrating on the prospect of continued warming, when actually there is little evidence that warming is likely to prove anywhere near as disastrous as the media portray.

[Guest Guest66881]

What is it with Australia and climate change denial?

 

 

What's that to do with your original question?

[Harpodom]

What's that to do with your original question?

 

Everything. The gaffe in question (of the OP) is Maurice Newman's 'global cooling' gaffe

[Guest Guest66881]

Tony Abbott adviser warns of threat of 'global cooling'

 

Is no 'gaffe':wink:

[MARYROSE02]

Global warming is a w***! And even if it isn't, untll the big players like China, India, USA, Russia, start doing something meaningful, there is absolutely no point in Australia doing anything.

 

Joe Hockey made a gaffe. Big deal. Tell me a politician who does not make gaffes, large and/or small? ICAC in NSW, having gone through the NSW ALP, is now doing the same with the NSW Libs.

 

Who cares whether he is in touch with working class Australians. He's no more out of touch than 'working class heroes' like Doug Cameron, or Juliar Gillard, or Kevin Rudd. I don't care if they are capitalist millionaires or socialist millionaires. They are all the same.

[Xenon4017]

I earn approx $120 per week. My petrol is $50 per week. I do the job because I love it and can afford to do it because my OH is on an exceptionally good wage and guess what? He doesn't use a car at all, so zero fuel. Now I'm not complaining for myself but if I wasn't lucky enough to have a high earning OH I'd be stuuffed. Also what about the kids clubs and parties etc etc I suppose being poor parents shouldn't be driving to these.

 

If you spend 50$ to earn 120, then yes, you're stuffed. But you didn't state how much you spend on rego and the other motoring costs. My bet is that this would account for another 50$ per week too. So the total cost of car ownership is about 100$ per week. The extra burden from the fuel levy would be minimal.

[Que Sera Sera]

If you spend 50$ to earn 120, then yes, you're stuffed. But you didn't state how much you spend on rego and the other motoring costs. My bet is that this would account for another 50$ per week too. So the total cost of car ownership is about 100$ per week. The extra burden from the fuel levy would be minimal.

 

A minimal amount to someone on a good wage but not to someone who is not.

[Xenon4017]

A minimal amount to someone on a good wage but not to someone who is not.

 

The increase would be minimal compared to what you already spend on motoring. Hockeys initial increase would be just over 1c per litre. If you spend 50$ on fuel, that's about 33 litres. So your increase cost of motoring would be about 50c. I'm sure that the petrol price fluctuates by 10 times that amount over the course of a month. Supermarket discounts are usually 3x the increased levy amount.

 

My boss spends 200$ per week on fuel. He'll be contributing 2$ a week extra.

[Que Sera Sera]

The increase would be minimal compared to what you already spend on motoring. Hockeys initial increase would be just over 1c per litre. If you spend 50$ on fuel, that's about 33 litres. So your increase cost of motoring would be about 50c. I'm sure that the petrol price fluctuates by 10 times that amount over the course of a month. Supermarket discounts are usually 3x the increased levy amount.

 

My boss spends 200$ per week on fuel. He'll be contributing 2$ a week extra.

 

Its the thin end of the wedge though once the excess is in force it will then be increased year in year out, just like in the UK. But the real argument is Joe Hockey saying poor people don't drive as much. Such a sweeping generalization. Ridiculous.

[MARYROSE02]

Wait for the next General Election then we will really see what the people think of Joe and Tony and George.

[Que Sera Sera]

Wait for the next General Election then we will really see what the people think of Joe and Tony and George.

 

Yes because I for one will have the vote this time!

[flybyknight]

so is this all political padding for a rise in fuel prices?

seems strange to jack up fuel prices for the poor and middle earners (those who don't claim fuel back on their tax) whilst still paying the mines fuel bills for all their trucks etc.

it's not like they can't pay?

[Que Sera Sera]

I believe its paving the way for the UK system. Easy money we all need petrol.

[Harpodom]

so is this all political padding for a rise in fuel prices?

seems strange to jack up fuel prices for the poor and middle earners (those who don't claim fuel back on their tax) whilst still paying the mines fuel bills for all their trucks etc.

it's not like they can't pay?

 

What's even stranger is that there are so many fools who defend a government which treats them with such obvious contempt.