Jenna Talackova
Transgender beauty queen “disqualified for being born.”
A transgender Canadian beauty queen has been kicked out of a Miss Universe pageant after it was discovered she was born a boy. The Miss Universe Canada beauty pageant said 23-year-old Jenna Talackova “did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form.” Apparently, pageant rules state all contestants must be a “naturally born female only.” The contestant has not made an official comment – she’s in talks with her lawyer, but she did tweet: “I’m disqualified, however I’m not giving up,” she wrote. “I’m not going to just let them disqualify me over discrimination.”
Opposition’s appeal to working mothers.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he will extend the childcare rebate to include subsidies for nannies if he wins government in next year’s federal election. He said there needs to be greater flexibility in childcare options and that funding for nannies would make it easier for women to juggle careers and family. ‘We want as many women as can be to have challenging and demanding careers rather than having to fit a bit of work in around the edges,” he said to the Sydney Morning Herald. ”Parents with young kids don’t work the standard nine to five hours, five days a week, and the childcare sector still caters overwhelmingly to people in that position,” he said.
Mr Abbott said he would consult the Productivity Commission to see if funding for nannies was economically viable. The opposition has previously announced a paid parental leave scheme, which would pay a woman’s full wage for six months after she gives birth, up to $75,000.
Mamamia will soon be publishing a Q&A with the Opposition Leader about his new plan to help working families. Got a question for Mr Abbott? Leave it in the comments section.
Gallipoli anniversary could divide Australia
ANZAC day celebrations could cause diversions in multicultural Australia, the Federal Government has been warned. A 2010 report found centenary celebrations of the Gallipoli landing in 2015 could be a “potential area of divisiveness” because of multiculturalism, according to news.com.au.
The paper states: “Commemorating our military history in a multicultural society is something of a double-edged sword….While the 100th anniversaries are thought to provide some opportunity for creating a greater sense of unity, it is also recognised as a potential area of divisiveness.”
But the RSL has slammed the report, saying enthusiasm for the day is as strong as ever and that ANZAC day holds a special place in Australia.
What does ANZAC day mean to you?
UV manicure lamps are “mini tanning beds”
UV lamps used in nail salons may pose a skin cancer risk, according to a melanoma researcher from the University of Sydney. Professor Graham Mann said the lamps – for gel and shellac nails – use the same kind of long-wave ultraviolet radiation present in tanning beds, which were recently banned in NSW (the law will come into effect in 2014). But he said more research into the lamps was required to know for sure. ‘I suspect it is a concern,” he said. ”It’s hard to know exactly how much extra risk it would produce but I am sure it produces some. There’s not been much research done to link up the use of these nail ovens with skin cancer, although it’s definitely something worth exploring.”
Anna Bligh loses election, quits politics.
Former Queensland premier Anna Bligh has announced her resignation from politics after the Labor party suffered an “absolutely shattering” loss in the Queensland election over the weekend. “I simply don’t believe that Labor can develop an effective opposition…if it has me as part of its public face,” she said yesterday. “The size of the loss and the loudness and clarity of the message sent by the people of Queensland is unmistakable… And in fairness to Queenslanders I don’t believe I should ignore it.”
Bligh’s resignation – which opens the road for a by-election in her seat of South Brisbane – means Labor could have as few as seven MPs in the 89-seat parliament. Campbell Newman will be sworn in as the premier of Queensland this afternoon.
Angelina Jolie responds to the leg meme.
It first appeared on the red carpet in a black Versace gown, and in the weeks after this year’s Oscars, Angelina Jolie’s leg was everywhere; on the Statue of Liberty, crossing Abbey Road with The Beatles, and at the moon landing. It even had its own Twitter account.
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Jolie has responded to the meme that went viral on the internet. She said: “I honestly didn’t pay attention to it. You know what I mean? I don’t watch those TV shows and if I go online and see something about myself, I don’t click on it. And the people I surround myself with don’t really talk about that kind of stuff. I heard something, but I didn’t pay any attention. It’s as simple as being a woman picking a dress you like and having a night, and not really thinking about anything else.”
Have you noticed anything in the news you want to talk about?
Comments
127 Comments so far
‘Mr Abbott said he would consult the Productivity Commission to see if funding for nannies was economically viable.’
Sounds great too me…if I had two + children it would be a much more cost effective way of being able to work full time and I love the idea in principal.
My problem with this policy announcement he’s made is that just saying it doesn’t actually mean it will happen…I don’t trust Tony Abbott enough to think that it is any more than a ‘promise to investigate’ that it will probably be one of the first things to be thrown out the window as soon as the Liberals were to win government.
So far the opposition has not been able to provide any thorough costing of all the policies they have been announcing…zilch. I have no idea how they propose to pay for this and the increased value of the maternity leave payments they are proposing when they are promising to get rid of the mining tax etc.?!?
I will not trust them until they can show proof of how they are going to pay for these promises and I don’t trust Tony Abbott enough to take him on his word.
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I’m a single mother with a 3 year old. In my profession I have to travel 5-6 times a year for 2 weeks at a time, which I have to hire a nanny for, and I have to hire a nanny 1-2 evenings a week when I have to work overtime.
If I don’t do this I basically cannot work in this role for any company, and to change professions would mean a massive decrease in salary. As a result it would be better for me to be on the pension. I do struggle, as a single parent, with hiring a nanny casually during the week and when I go away.
Tony, your proposal sounds fantastic for my circumstances. BUT. If you do this, where does the money come from? Are you taking it away from hospital beds, or school funding? I’m interested in which areas this is going to impact, because it seems like it will be a big hit to the taxpayer.
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I think it’s crazy that the Canadian woman has been disqualified for not being born female. It’s not like she has a natural advantage over other contestants, eg if they were in an athletics competition, and she’s no more artificially enhanced than some othe contestants (especially those from Venezuela, where surgery is apparently very common) so why on earth not?
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She lied on her application. Rules state you cant eter if you weren’t born female. Rules are rules.
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Yes, she lied, and the rules are quite specific. If she doesn’t like it, then she should fight to get the rules changed, then re-enter the competition. Every organisation has the right to set it’s own criteria.
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Did I really just read what you wrote? So, are you really saying that any organisation can set whatever rules it likes and everyone should just suck it in? Organisations that want to ban on the grounds of race, colour, sex etc etc go right ahead and you will be ok with that? If a business or a club had a “no blacks” or “no jews” rule that would be just fine with you because “every organisation has the right to set its own criteria”? I thought the world had moved on from all that. I can’t see how there is any inherent requirement to be considered “beautiful” to be female and that such a “rule” would be legal anyway if it was challenged. As an aside – and i’m a fair dinkum aussie bloke – he/she is pretty amazing looking and would give the other competitors a run for their money.
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Oh FFS. Do you just want to throw away the rule book and be done with it? No rules. For anything. If I want to play first grade rugby but I’m not a bloke and I have no talent should I be free to take it to the anti-discrimination court? Why don’t we just charge Mother Nature for mucking things up, lock her in jail and throw away the key?
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Question for Tony Abbott:
You’ve said that youre going to cut taxes as well as deliver a range of new, expensive services, including government funding of nanny’s at home. My question is, where on the pecking order of currently “aspirational” goals does this sit?
Will this happen before dental funding from Medicare? Will it happen before business and income tax cuts? Will it hsppen before the disability indurance scheme? Will it happen even if it means not delivering a surplus?
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Good questions!
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Re ANZAC Day. I’m still struggling that anyone could find this important day of remembrance divisive. I’m in my mid forties and was raised waving the flag to the marching men every 25 April. I continued to do this in the 1970′s when the number of supporters fell and through the resurgence of this special day from the late 1980′s. With the benefit of this hindsight and experience, I can affirm that ANZAC Day in fact unites the community. I had and have no personal reason to attend these commemorations other than to say “thanks” to those marching and those no longer with us. Any division that occurs will be done by people who want that division. In our broader Australian vernacular, “You can tell them all to go and get stuffed”, if anybody wants to consider doing anything other than holding ANZAC Day up as a proud Australian tradition.
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I’m confused if the opinion had any public merit apart from one big mouthed social commentator, every country celebrates it’s military history with traditions, and I think it’s matter of PC gone insane again. I don’t know where these people get their opinions, I bet if one went and interviewed people from other countries about this on the street, you’d be struggling to find someone from overseas who would contest the anniversary.
It’s like with traditional religious holidays here, other religions have their festivals here, and I know lots of people from different countries and I can’t fathom them having a problem with them. One of the most beautiful Christmas presents I ever got was santa themed from a muslim colleage.
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Why hasn’t Abbott mentioned general childcare costs and subsidising that for working women AND men? Further, nanny services would have to be very heavily subsidised by the Government to allow for low-SES families to even access the services they provide. Is Abbott planning to subsidise more for less wealthy families?
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It would apply to the primary carer, be it female or male, and considerations of income if it is a single or partnered couple raising a child. I haven’t fully read his speech but the law would apply equally to both sexes depending on the share of custody.
But part 2 of your question I am also wondering about. For me as a single parent I don’t ethically think I should be able to get the pension plus childcare allowance (unless I’m studying) but if I’m working then yes, I should. And there needs to be more of a consideration that if childcare is not affordable to less wealthy families, then one cannot return to work. So the value of providing subsidised child care needs to be weighed against one parent not being able to return to work as a result of the lack of said subsidised care. Hopefully he can answer this one
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I first heard about Amina here on Mamamia. You’d included her in the photos of the week, with very little information and I had to Google her story for myself. I asked why and Rick said he was working on an article. I guess you didn’t get around to it before this tragic news… http://insideislam.wisc.edu/index.php/archives/13143
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My comment disappeared. Maybe because it had some cut and paste from the Age website?
Anyway what I was saying is that Tony Abbott hasn’t said he *will* subsidise nannys, just that if he gets into office he will get the productivity commission to model the costing. He also says it would have to fit into the “existing budget envelope”
I doubt it’s going to happen. I think it’s just one of those ideas he has made up on the fly to grab votes without any thought to how it’s going to be paid for and without any input from the party.
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Can you ask Tony Abbott:
– Will the Nanny rebate be means tested?
– If not, how can he justify giving a rebate to a millionaire for example?
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I think the nanny option is fantastic as I am currently paying and sending my child to care 2 days a week when it is not needed as I look for work to make sure I have a place when I have obtained a position.
There is such a chronic shortage and this would be fantastic as, my sister and I have often considered sharing a nanny.
Tony Abbot–if you bring this one in it will be so great for so many families. Many professioinal mothers have other professional-mother friends and would happily share a nanny and feel it would be better for their children, knowing that the same person would be looking after their children in the most informative years of their lives.
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I’ll admit upfront that I don’t think I will ever be voting for Tony Abbott but let’s not be too cynical about this particular proposal. I think more of us women should support a leader – ANY leader – who is willing to create policies that support working mothers. Australia is very very backwards compared to other nations in this regard.
If you ask me the real suspicion should be reserved for Angelina Jolie. Oh please, as though she didn’t monitor the reaction to that absurd pose she pulled at the Oscars. So you’re human and your vanity got the better of you and made you look silly – really, it’s ok, it happens. Fess up and move on with the rest of your spectacular life
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- That photo of TA makes me smile for some reason… he is playing with a toy iron sorrounded by girls…
- I love ANZAC day. When that bugle plays, i get goose bumps every time. Reminds me of the sacrifices made. For perspective, the Gallipoli – Memorial at Anzac Cove says: “Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…
You are now living in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours…
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace, after having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
Ataturk, 1934
Not exactly ‘dividing’ material…
- UV lamp – ummm. Yes, they are pretty much a mini tanning bed. When I did nails as a beautician, your nails are in them for about 40 seconds all up. I don’t see that much damage coming from them. I would be more worried about the chemicals, nail dust and risk of spreading infections more.
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ANZAC Day – It makes me so sad that our govt would spend all that money on focus groups. Our Veterans are living on the poverty line, currently serving members are using inadequate equipment or buying it themselves yet our govt (who is constantly telling us to save $$$ in our department) wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars on focus groups that tell us not to celebrate the achievements of our veterans and currently serving Defence members. I am sorry but the ANZACs deserve to be celebrated, my children deserve to go to the 100 year celebrations and cheer as their Dad marches, they should be proud to hear the stories of their great grandfathers going to war. They should not have it swept under the carpet for fear of offending minorities.
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Purely on a dollar basis, I’m sure the Anzac Day marches cost more thant that study & the focus groups did.
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Actually, I see a lot of concern in that report about the need to keep Anzac Day respected and not let it become just another reason to have a party, get drunk, and act like yobbos. Especially at Gallipoli itself.
From the article:
“The issues raised also extended to how Australia was being portrayed when visitors attended the Dawn Service held each year at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli on Anzac Day.
“Music concerts and alcohol for most were considered inappropriate and disrespectful at Gallipoli where people should be commemorating (not celebrating) the events that took place at this historic site,” the report said.
Australian Defence Force personnel also raised similar concerns.”
It is also clear that the govt is trying to ensure that Anzac Day remains an inclusive commemoration for the whole community. It’s not about ‘fear of offending minorities’, it’s about trying to help your new Australian neighbours understand why the day holds cultural significance for us all.
By the way, focus groups are just people from the community who are asked their opinions. They’re people like you, your neighbour, your workmates, your family. Focus groups shouldn’t be used to formulate policy, but they can give an idea into how people are feeling about an issue.
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Questions for Tony
– what is your policy on aged care, especially funding for carers?
- why aren’t SAHM funded?
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SAHM’s are funded – FTB A and B, some child care benefit, rent assistance and parenting payments (if needed) plus the baby bonus. How much more do SAHM’s want?
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For all those people who think SAHM should be ‘funded’…
1. What do you mean by this? What is your ACTUAL policy suggestion? I assume it isn’t just giving out chunks of money to SAHM’s because, well, that’s already being done!
2. What is the rationalisation for providing more support to SAHMs? Other than “It would be nice to have some more money”?
Being a SAHM is a private choice that is already being given government support. It isn’t enough for you? You can’t afford things? Then you can’t be a SAHM.
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I agree. I was a single Mum for 2 years (single since 8 months pregnant) and overwhelmed by the amazing government support. I was able to live right on the beach in Sydney in lovely accommodation and fully able to support myself and my daughter until the time when we had finished all our court problems and was able to return to work. I was absolutely gobsmacked by how much assistance we received. We are the lucky country. I don’t know how anyone cannot survive happily on the assistance we are provided as parents. Unless you cannot live without a fancy car or a mortgage. Its designed to help people in need, not people paying off expensive houses and effects. Its about need, and our government pays well and truly beyond what you need to raise a child.
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I would like to know how Tony Abbott plans to support the women who want to stay at home and raise their children instead of having a nanny do it for them.
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Litlte bit snarky isnt it?!
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I would love SAHM’s to be a bit more valued and supported too!
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Supported in what way? I think the idea behind the nanny scheme and childcare rebates is that they support people to get back into the workforce, to raise productivity – ie it’s a tool to improve the economy, not just a “nice support” for parents. I think SAHM are amazing, and I support their choice to stay at home and raise their children however I don’t really think that it’s a role of government to pay for that personal choice.
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I would like to see women supported by Tony Abbott, not just mothers!
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As noted above, there are plenty of payments SAHM’s are eligible for.
We have such an entitlement society now (and I’m a lefty!) that every personal choice needs to have a government payoff or intervention.
The government should IMO scrap all the hickeldy pickeldy payments and reform the tax system and move child care into the education system (ie universal right) so that the policies are economically based, not based on cultural changes and families feeling they are owed something.
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I’m not sure you were trying to respond to my comment, Dee.
I think the taxation system favours parents too much already – working or not.
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They need to. Because if they don’t, then many parents would not be able to afford to return to work. So either the government subsidises childcare and accepts tax from the parents who return to work, or it pays them the pension. Subsidy is cheaper.
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Why should ANYBODY but a partner support someone who chooses to stay home and parent?
Why is it up to Tony Abbott or any Government to support YOUR choice in having children? You want to have a child go ahead. You want to quit work and bring up your child, go ahead but that’s a CHOICE you make, no one else should be expected to pay for YOUR choice.
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I’m a SAHM I do not expect any handouts from the government. My husband and I made a choice, it was ours and ours alone, I wasn’t forced into it and I will continue to stay at home for as long as circumstances permit. If my husbands income changes and we need another wage, I will go back too work.
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That’s a pretty rude comment. What makes you think that parents with children in care don’t raise their children. They don’t go there for 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
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I would prefer if tey put the money into supporting businesses to employ return to work women. A lot of people resign after one year maternity leave and then want to return to the workforce in a part time capacity when their child is say 2. I have been surprised that after 2 years with a great track record and good cv etc, I am finding it so hard to even get an interview in my industry, which is finance, even fir the fulltime roles. You should see the faces when I mention I have twins. I try not to mention them in interviews but it has slipped out! I would love to see the government do something to encourage workers back to work. My mothers group has 5 women like me, so I don’t think this problem is unique.
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They don’t encourage women at all do they? When I returned to work – an unexpected job came my way, I had to pay back $4000 plus I had to start paying for childcare. It was a nightmare and I questioned why I bothered.
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Tony – great idea!! Love it!!!!! I love that you recognise that women not only need to be supported while on maternity leave, but also when they return to work.
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I’d love to see Lauren’s “view from Canberra” take on the Nanny plan!
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Brilliant idea tony Abbott. A government that understands how an economy works! I understand how people without kids could be frustrated by a nanny rebate but at the end of the day, it gets mid to high income earners back at work and paying taxes. It also means those families can keep paying private health cover (saves the govt a hell of a lot by keeping them out of the public system) and same goes for paying private school fees.
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On the same day that Mr Abbott sprung his idea on us (and his collegues, it would seem) Ross Cameron, who will return to politics at the next election, published an opinion piece expressing his support for the idea of the abolishment of the minimum wage.
This is where we are headed.
At least our family nanny will be cheap and tax deductable!
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that article made me really angry! Earlier this year I read Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck for the first time… I think that book made a pretty good case for minimum wage, and I don’t believe anything Ross Cameron wrote was true. As if minimum wage will keep jobseekers unemployed?!?! How does that even make sense?
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Yes Idle Dad. Without a minimum wage, you end up with a scary US style system, where you can work a full week and still not earn enough to pay for food and a place to live. This adds up to massive social dislocation and an underclass of people who barely subsist. Our system does not always help all those who need assistance, but at least it does provide the basics for those in work.
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Agree with Idle Dad on the minimum wage. I recently watched the documentary WalMart – the high cost of low price. Scary how it is for full-time workers in the US who don’t even earn enough to pay rent, food and basic health items. It’s at the point that WalMart directs their workers on how to claim aid for medical and rent!
if Ross Cameron removes the minimum wage – will he lower the cost of living? Will he remove the many import duties and high distribution costs? Will he lower the cost of petrol and lower taxes? Or will employers use these arguments as to why they still cannot employ people?
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As in “he’s rooting for you” Ross Cameron? Oh great.
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I’m not buying Mr Abbott’s promises. ‘Consulting the productivity commission’ sounds like he’s putting in place his backflip. (The ALP do this too, I’m an equal opportunity pessimist!)
Question for Tony Abbott: What will the LNP do to fund special needs children in schools? And what is their policy in response ot the Gonski report?
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QUESTION FOR MR ABBOTT:
Why does the taxpayer have to pick up the tab for other people’s child related costs? If people make the decision to have a child, they should do so understanding they are financially responsible for that child and all associated costs. Aside from education, health and people experiencing unavoidable hardship, I don’t see why *I* should have to contribute to caring for a child someone else can’t afford. People have raised children without financial aid in the past and we all turned out just fine.
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Question for Taxpayer
Why do my future children have to pick up the tab for your ageing related costs? If you choose to get older and need a pension, or have health related costs because you can no longer care for yourself, why should they have to contribute?
Older people have managed to live in poverty without financial aid in the past, and they all turned out fine.
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People do not choose to get old. People do choose to have children.
“Ageing” costs are also health related. I stated above, I have no problem assisting people with health, education and unavoidable hardship.
I have an elderly grandmother (80+) who does just fine without any help from the government aside from a Seniors Card. I also have a superannuation fund as I aim to support myself for as long as possible.
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You’re missing the point Taxpayer. We need lots of young Australians paying taxes to support health services for our ageing population. The demographics are now very top heavy with older people and it’s getting moreso. The numbers people have been talking about this for a long time (30 years+). Things like the CCR make it easier for people to have children and more of them. People are living longer and costing our society a lot more as a consequence.
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I find it really interesting that we hear a lot about the need to have more children to support our ageing population and that people should be encouraged to have more children yet the fact is we can’t sustain such a large population environmentally. It’s easy to say that Australia is huge, that’s not a problem for us, but ecosystems are global – it’s a global problem.
There isn’t an easy fix to the issue, I’m not proposing that everyone stops having babies because the world is going to explode, but it’s interesting that someone would choose to have several children – ostensibly because it supports an ageing population – but not consider the kind of world that those children will be living in.
Sorry to play the greenie!!
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I’m supportive of there being help for families and something there to help parents get back into the work force after having a baby…
BUT I cannot stand the argument that parents put up about how their child will be there to provide for the rest of us. Please. As if you had children to support our ageing population. You had a baby because you wanted a family – and that’s fine – just don’t pretend that you did it for society and therefore the rest of us owe you for it.
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It’s not an individual thing it’s a society thing b. As a society we support people having children.
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Yes, and as I said, I support there being help for families, particularly to encourage parents back into the workforce as that supports our economy (which Government has a role to manage).
However I get really frustrated with the sense of entitlement that we’re all developing. No one owes you anything because you had a baby. It’s a personal decision and I have yet to meet a parent who has decided to have a child to make sure that we have taxpayers in the future. So the arguments about that (above) drive me nuts.
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I take your points b. And yes the sense of entitlement drives me nuts too.
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Oh yes this! It’s unlikely there will be much in the way of govt pension by the time Gen X retires anyway. We’re being heavily encouraged to self fund for a reason.
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Exactly! Why am I paying my taxes AND Superannuation? Because I’m expected to be self-supporting in my old age!
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Unless you are one of the few lucky enough to have a super fund/ savings account to pay for your entire life after you are no longer able to work, my child will be paying for your pension. Plain and simple.
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Could not agree more tax payer!! Thank god someone has said it.
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He already answer that, didn’t he? It’ll actually benefit society (and the government’s tax income) because it gets high income workers back into the workforce and paying tax.
Personally, I’d prefer a society where a dual income isn’t the assumption built into the cost of everything, but in the meantime, assistance is great.
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Won’t the tax these people are paying outweigh the costs of rebating the child care in the first place?
I agree assistance is great for those who get it and that you’d be silly to say no to what is being offered to you, however I just can’t help feeling some taxpayers get short changed.
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So do you begrudge the stay at home parents’ FTB A and B as well? Oh and you do know you will need to save a lot of super to not ever expect to claim the pension. People live for a long time these days.
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I think you’re asking the opposite question – won’t the cost of the rebate outweigh the tax income?
If you look at only a single year, it probably does – though the rebate is capped. If you look at the income generated over the life of a tax payer, the cost is minimal.
My wife can’t return to work because the cost of childcare is too high (about $76,000 for three kids) but I could get a nanny for less – and possibily my wife keep her job.
Say we get back 50% of $40,000 for the nanny over four years until our youngest are in school, it wouldn’t take long for the government to recoup that cost from my working wife (she’s paying off some of it while working, then contributing completely once we don’t need a nanny).
If my wife has to quit her job for five years, it is (in the real world) very hard to get a job back at the same rate (MM has covered this a couple of times) – employers seem to think women’s minds turn to mush if they take time off to raise kids – you are treated as if you have no experience or qualifications. The government, overall, gets much less taxable income.
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I’m still stuck on the cost of childcare and nannies… $76K for 3 in childcare?! And is $40K for a nanny a full time or part time wage?
I had no idea it was that expensive……..
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I pay 27k a year in tax.
The maximum (and only) rebate I could get for child care is $7500, which I don’t currently get because we happen to have a “nanny” for after school care. So net worth to the goverment for me working even with the rebate is 19,500. And that doesn’t include the discretionary spend in retail, tourism, entertainment, etc that I wouldn’t have available to spend if I didn’t have suitable child care and was unable to work.
It also doesn’t take into account the money I would be costing the tax payer in social security, public health and provision of public housing. When you add up all those things the $7500 starts looking like a pretty good deal.
In the last 15 years I would estimate that I have paid$150,000 in tax (not including the 65K I have re-paid in Hecs) my child has cost “the tax payer” 15k in the child care rebate, nothing in the public health system, nothing in the public education system, and nothing in the social security system. In return I have contributed tax dollars, to the Australian public serving in the ADF, and now working in the Justice area. My husband has had seven operational tours into warzones, on behalf of the Australian public.
Quite frankly I think the Australian Tax payer is getting it’s pound of flesh for an annual rebate of $7500. (which we don’t even get, because we do not use “approved’ care)
I firmly believe that Child care is a legitimate work expense, because without it parents (not just mothers ) would be unable to work.
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You make a good point, Idle Dad. As the mother of adult children it concerns me that the cost of housing, in fact, the cost of everything, makes it impossible for them to survive on one income. In such a huge and underpopulated country as this, you shouldn’t have to pay half a million dollars for a postage sized block of land.
This in turn impacts me, who lovingly but begrudgingly (secretly) give up my free days to mind the children.
Mr Abbott has the making of a quality policy that will enable nurses and other shift workers to continue working and have a nanny to step in because their hours don’t marry with child-care facilities. He’s moving in a very positive direction – if he can raise the funds from the scorched earth policy of the ALP.
TAXPAYER, I also see your point and agree with you. But things are different now and women don’t just choose to work – they have to. And they are raising future taxpayers. It’s a complicated issue.
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Agreed. We purposely ensured the house we bought had a mortgage we could support on a single income (we had to move a LONG way from my work to do so, but it is what it is). We also staggered the kids so childcare costs wouldn’t overwhelm us, but our ‘third’ ended up being our ‘third and forth’. So game over for my wife’s career, really.
I don’t begrudge how things have turned out, but it’s impossible to say there will be no long term impacts to our finances, especially during retirement, etc… The house will take longer to pay off, our super pool will be smaller, etc…
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Hi M.
I agree that with the current system it is unfair that shift/ nighttime workers miss out on rebated childcare, it is unfair that they should miss out on something the other parents get (especially considering this involves workers such as nurses, police offices, firemen, prison officers etc).
I am one of those ‘adult children’ who is currently unable to afford a house of my own as I don’t want to impact myself financially in the future by paying interest on a 100% home loan, so I am slowly (but surely) saving.
I have taken onboard what people have commented and I can admit I didn’t think too deeply into the fact that children are our future taxpayers and had I been born into a society that had these rebates/benefits already I probably would think differently. I have also seen people misuse government benefits so I’m sure this has impacted my quick judgement on the proposed rebate also.
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But just like aging kids are an inevitable part of society.. we have to have kids to replace ourselves.
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I appreciate everyone’s opinions/comments, for those interested please see my response to “M” as an addition to my original question (which I still stand by) for Mr Abbott (have switched computers and am unable to add an update to my initial post),
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Hey Taxpayer
Have you put your hand out for the first home buyers grant?
Did you get a stimulus bonus a few years ago?
If you have, please stop complaining about baby bonus/childcare rebate etc.
I find many people (usually those without kids) are so quick to rant about any baby related payments but they don’t seem to have any problems taking advantage of benefits that suit them, such as first home buyers, which is a substantial amount of money. more that most get from having 2 kids.
for the record i have had two children, so i got 2 baby bonus payments and currently have one child in childcare one day a week so i get a 50% rebate for that. Neither my husband or myself have got the first home buyers grant. and i wasn’t entitled to anything when the stimulus money was handed out, my husband got some but not the full amount.
my husband supports me as i am looking for work but i am “too qualified” so am having no luck getting a job in my industry. i don’t want a nanny, i would just like employers to not discriminate against me for having kids and perhaps give me a go even though i am over-qualified for a job. i would rather a role that suits the amount of experience i have, but i want a job so that’s why i am applying for jobs that are quite junior.
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Hi green trees
The state government plans to abolish the first home owners grant before I will have saved up enough money for a housing deposit. And yes I did received the stimulus, I spent it on essential vision correction for my two vision impairments without which I’d be unable to drive, work, or do simple things like shop for groceries and the government doesn’t feel the need to provide any assistance for that.
I have empathy for people being turned down for jobs for being ‘over qualified”, I think that sucks as people wouldn’t apply for jobs they didn’t want!
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I didn’t get the first home owners grant, didn’t get the stimulus package either, in fact I’ve never received a government payment of any kind in 35 years – so yeah I get totally pissed off when I hear parents complaining of “not getting enough” hand outs from the government.
How about you all just have the amount of children you can support on YOUR wage, with no government help.
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We didn’t get the first home buyers grant, no baby bonus for first 2 kids, one small bonus for 3rd baby, none for last baby, bare minimum childcare rebate, no family tax a or b, no education allowance and one stimulus only. I’d say we’ll get some of the private health rebate taken off us soon. SOme parents don’t get much/anything either.
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What’s next Mr Abbott? Subsidising private jets and caviar?
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Nurses and shift workers don’t work to childcare time tables. A nanny would be able to work around that. I don’t think he is talking about a French au pair and a butler!
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I know they’re uncommon, but my daycare mum used to watch my kids overnight and on weekends. We were both shift workers. My kids were both good sleepers, so she admitted it was easier money than day time care.
There have been some (not enough) 24 hour day care centres over the years.
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“A nanny would be able to work around that.”
And would be properly paid for the extra inconvenience, I hope.
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Angelina Jolie is so joyless it doesn’t surprise me that that was her response. ‘I don’t surround myself with people who use the internet or laugh. Especially not at the same time’.
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How exactly would you reply if the whole internet community had been bagging shit out of you??? I think she did ok!
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Laugh?
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That’s a bit harsh. The entire world laughing at her expense and she is supposed to take it…how? I think she is perfectly right to say that she her and her friends are above it. I thought it was funny, but also a little cruel.
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I took her response as a “Meh”
And then she gets to go home to Brad Pitt.
Power to the gal.
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So Tony Abbott is trying to win “teh womenz” votes? I don’t buy it. He’s trying to buy the “working families” vote, as per usual. I certainly won’t be voting for him, because I don’t trust him that WorkChoices is dead, buried and cremated. No doubt he will resurrect it in another guise. Don’t be fooled, people!
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Nicki, you need not look far. See here an opinion piece (the author is a former Liberal member, looking to reenter politics at the next election), published the same day as Abbott’s nanny policy.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/minimum-wage-means-jobseekers-wasting-time-20120323-1vp2m.html
It’s not work choices, it’s the underlying desire of work choices laid bare.
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What a depressing article. Even the US (bastion of capitalism) has a minimum wage, pathetic as it may be.
It seems that Ross cameron wants us all to blame unemployment on those employed on a minimum wage, so small businesses can’t afford to employ people. Or am I again missing something?
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There was little wrong with Work Choices except that it took the power away from the unions and the unions were filthy. The election ads used paid actors. Did you ever hear or see anyone in genuine distress because of Work Choices or did you simply swallow the propaganda? And how is Fair Work doing in upholding the rights of lowly paid workers who’s union fees are suspected of being misappropriated? How many years now?
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Most of the Work Choices ads were the government trying to explain it to the Australian public. And the more they tried to explain it, the more people understood and disliked it.
Safeguards like – parents need to approve McDonald’s contracts with new low low wage for their kids, as if parents had some kind of barganing power with McDonalds? McDonalds would have laughed, let the offer expire and move onto the next kid.
There were plenty of real cases of people being taken advantage of work choices – the government even introduced a whole bureaucracy to review each contract because of it!
Your argument that ‘because some unions officals are (obviously) corrupt everything unions fought for is not required’ is the weakest of arguments – play the ball, not the man.
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Um, in fact yes, M. A local restaurant called Chilli’s in the Wollongong area coerced junior staff members into unfair contracts at the time WorkChoices was bandied about. When the local media got wind of it, there was community outrage, and the restaurant was closed down. I can’t find any archived articles, but if you’re interested, feel free to contact the Illawarra Mercury for details.
For the record, a new restaurant in the same style has opened on the exact same site as Chilli’s – and they don’t have trouble paying their staff the award wage!
Now, when you think about how many complaints we hear from business owners about how expensive it is to employ staff, as if businesses wouldn’t pay staff a pittance if they could get away with it.
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Did I ever see anyone in genuine distress because of Work Choices? Why yes I did. My brother in law lost his job because of it, he took leave for the birth of his first child and when he went back was told he no longer had a job. Work Choices allowed his employer to do this and it caused immense amounts of pain and distress to my sister and her husband.
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Oh, I knew Angelina would respond like that… I was hoping she’d say that she was slightly mortified when she saw how ridiculous she looked, but that she’d had a good laugh about it.
So disappointing about Anna Bligh. I am dreading the Federal election… Speaking of which, Tony Abbott is surely going to win a few fans if he can pull his nanny plan off, but while I’d love to see childcare reforms and more support and flexibility for mothers in paid work, I still wouldn’t vote for Tony Abbott in a million years.
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Question for Tony Abbott – I know this isn’t the case for all everyone, but have you considered the impact of child rearing in those families where the mum is the main breadwinner? At the moment most means testing is done on combined incomes, which in cases like mine mean income is decimated by me being on unpaid maternity leave. I don’t expect middle class welfare but I do need a break while my not inconsiderable income is halted….happy to go back to paying taxes once I’m earning (oh and I can find TWO childcare places that leave us enough income to pay the bills…).
I don’t agree with much you say Mr Abbott but this idea is a keeper. Looking forward to hearing more policies and less negativity from you.
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Same question from me!
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And from me too!! I think to date, both parties seem to be under the impression that the man always earns more than the woman.
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Hear hear!
I realise public policy has to cater to the statistical majority and I realise that I’m not in that majority, but it would be nice to hear one politician canvass the idea of the woman as the breadwinner. Not many families would survive long if their main breadwinner stopped earning, and depending on the gap between the incomes, some could barely stop at all.
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I call bull-shit on Jolie’s comment!! As if she wouldn’t have had a look.
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Did they release another update to the way google ranks websites? Ive noticed over the past few days some websites seem to bounce from ranks one to page two etc. This high rate of fluctuation makes me wonder what bases determine a websites’s rankings and whether changes in the results are determined by changes made in Google’s system or within the websites itself. If I had to guess, I believe this determination is based on a combination of changes both within Google and persistent tweaking of a website that could keep it balanced somewhere on page one.
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Question for Tony Abbot: Will the means testing for the child care rebate be removed also? If not, I can’t imagine there are many families that could afford a nanny while also being under the income threshold for means testing.
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I’m pretty sure the CCR is not means tested. The CC Benefit is means tested, but so long as you qualify at a zero rate (ie primarily meet the work/study test) you qualify for CC Rebate, which is available regardless of family income. Our family income is pretty high and we definitely get 50% of childcare fees rebated.
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Nanny care – finally someone is admitting there aren’t enough Childcare places!!! We’ve paid a nanny for the last year while my daughter’s name inches up waiting lists, where it’s languished since I was 6 months pregnant.
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Forget the politics … I think Tony Abbott would win in a landslide if he actually could action this reform. The social landscape is changing and it would be incredible to have more flexible options.
Personally as a mother of a young daughter (who has an immense dislike of before and after school care) I have purposely limited the type of work I can undertake with flexible hours to enable me to spend time with her and allow her outside activities, you know those things that kids are passionate about, like music, dancing, sport etc. We also have time to get homeowrk done, she can relax and have a early dinner rather than squeeze everything in from 6pm onwards. If I could get a rebate on a nanny a couple of afternoons a week, I could work a few longer days in a more steady role and whilst I may not make a lot more money (if any) I would still know that my daughters quality of life is balanced and my professional standing would increase.
And yes, the Queensland election result was VERY interesting – I thought given her handling of events in the last year or so and her popularity, that Anna would have won. I wonder outloud if this is a message to Canberra after the recent antics that we the people are unhappy that Labor can run their own show rather than what the democratic majority voted for.
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Just interested if you live in Queensland? Surely if you did there is no way you could have thought for a minute Anna would win?
I didn’t vote for Labor and am pleased they are gone but don’t think anyone having so much power is a great thing.
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Anna was never going to win. As soon as campbell newman put his hand up for leader she was gone. The question then was how many seats would she lose.
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A nice mix of news today MM…well done
A can’t help but feel sad for Anna Bligh though…Despite the shitty year that was for the Bligh government, I feel people are forgetting the extraordinary contribution Anna Bligh has made to Queensland politics. She should leave with her head held high.
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Can’t agree more Gracie! I think Anna Bligh dealt fantastically with such difficult circumstances over her time. I’m definitely sad to see her go.
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Got there with a huge lie and leaves with another. Not something that inspires sympathy.
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Huge lie. Selling gov assets is LNP policy. QLd is a million ears behind on asset sales -what do you think the new govt up there is going to do???
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Huge lie. Selling gov assets is LNP policy. QLd is a million years behind on asset sales -what do you think the new govt up there is going to do???
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Not the point. It was a clear lie as was her assurance only days ago that she would remain the sitting member whatever the outcome of the election. Both sides of politics need to wake up to the fact that the electorate will not cop these lies. Julia will be the next to be given this lesson.
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Re: Anna Bligh loses election, quits politics.
I can only comment on this as an outsider…but looking on from NSW, for the women who looked like an amazing leader during the Floods and Cyclones to be dumped so badly just seems weird…I’m not surprised Labor lost, but were they really so bad? The Qld election makes NSW Labor look like a success in comparison.
The change of government doesn’t really worry me too much, but the size of the win does. How can you possibly govern for “all the people” when you have such a large majority…seems to me that once you have so much power, you can just do whatever you want…that can’t be good.
http://kikiandtea.com/2012/03/we-all-need-to-live-in-marginal-seats/
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I totally agree, re Anna Bligh. I too am not from QLD but would have been proud to have her as our premier, someone who personified what it is to be an Australian.
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This queenslander has a feeling that voters are now so mistrusting and disgusted by the degeneration of politicians into dirty tactics (all parties are guilty and at state and federal levels) that they are willing to change government to see if things will improve and hope that new leaders will emerge with policies that are well-considered and not just reactive to public opinion. Consistency is not always a good thing but a little bit of it would help voters to feel they know what to expect next.
The frustrating thing is one of the parties has to win so it doesn’t really offer much incentive to politicians to develop their policies beyond anything that reacts to the non-stop polls, 24 hr media cycle and biased media reports which the public is enthralled with. Voters claim to want more from their politicians. If nothing better is on offer, then all the public have to vote for is a change … to anything.
I hope the LNP moves us forward and I am terribly sorry to see Anna go as she was a capable leader.
Tony Abbott seems to still be reacting … sigh.
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I’m a queenslander and it seems she is a lot better thought of outside of qld. I don’t know anyone who thinks much of her. Yes she lead the state well during the floods but it isn’t enough to keep her as premier. I know a lot of people who thought she went too far during the cyclone and should have taken a step back.
What really disgusted me was the gutter campaigning going on during the election. The attacks on Campbell and his family turned a lot of people off labor. I have never seen such a dirty campaign. In the ads for labor they didn’t seem to focus on their policies just Campbell and Anna’s speech during the floods.
The other interesting thing was that labor seemed to get rid of the red on a lot of their campaign posters.
I do agree that we need a functioning opposition and we don’t have that at that moment.
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I live in Queensland and one thing I’ve noticed is that there seems to be a very strong anti-labor slant in the news up here, especially the Courier Mail. I’m wondering if that has effected the public perception of Anna Bligh.
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I think you underestimate people’s intelligence. The media is not able to manipulate people to the extent you imply. Anna Bligh lied about selling off State assets, borrowed endlessly, lost Qld’s credit rating, presided over endless rising costs of living and mismanaged countless other issues. Labor has lost touch with it’s base – they spend way too much time trying to address their own leadership and survival ambitions. There is a huge trust issue and at Federal level we are sick of Julia Gillard’s deals with the Greens and Independents in order for her to hang onto her leadership.
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Sadly, I think lot of people in middle Australia are informed via headlines and bias reporting does have an impact.
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luckily they were smart enough not to buy into the accusations of corruption and dishonesty that Bligh levelled against Campbell Newman in the dying days of her leadership…..
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Totally agree, Janet. Labor are a nasty piece of work that has treated the electorate contemptibly at both State and Federal level. From the people I speak to, the State Election was just a warm up for the main event.
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Yep, it was definitely the Courier Mail’s doing *slams head on desk*
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I’m apparently one of the few Qlders who didn’t vote for the LNP (or the ALP for that matter), but I also felt for Anna Bligh on Saturday night, just as I felt for John Howard in 07.
I also don’t like the lack of opposition now in Qld, the memories of the coalitions last term are still fresh. The federal ALP has a lot of work to do before next year’s election if it doesn’t want a repeat of this election.
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My husband didn’t vote for LNP or ALP as well.
I agree, it must have been hard seeing your party lose so badly under your leadership. Andrew Fraser was even crying when he said he had lost his seat.
I actually voted for the LNP but agree the lack of opposition is a worry. However I have faith in Campbell Newman.
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Hi, I’m from Queensland and while I’m not surprised the LNP won I’m very disappointed Labor lost in such huge numbers. I’m genuinely worried by the number of Queenslanders who say they voted ‘for a change’ but seem to have put little thought in to what they are changing to. I’m particularly sad to see my local member Andrew Fraser go, I think he’s a great politician (I’ve especially liked him since he introduced the Civil Unions bill, something Newman has said he will repeal).
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She lost my vote when she increased the stamp duty on the purchase of the family home so significantly.
She looked good during the floods, but as she herself said, she was just doing her job.
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I would love to know more about Tony Abbott’s plan. If I could I would gladly employ someone to care for my children at home I stead I have to drag them out of bed at 6am so I can drop all three at different locations, daycare, before school care and sport training, and still make it to work by 8. If I could get someone to come to my home the kids would get more sleep (so would I) and all of our mornings would be so much easier. At the moment I can’t afford such a luxury. Despite our apparent high income earning status (insert eye roll).
Could AJ be any more full of herself? What’s wrong with having a laugh about the leg? How ridiculous!
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I agree re AJ – if she had had a laugh about it (and come on, some of those photos were pretty funny) I would have thought more highly of her
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