“The age of entitlement is over, the age of personal responsibility has begun.”
So said Treasurer Joe Hockey on Monday. Fine sentiments. Hockey is to be congratulated for them, and for being willing to take tough decisions on General Motors and SPC Ardmona to illustrate them.
But like any salesman’s pitch, there were some hidden terms and conditions in the declaration, some fine print that you won’t find in the media articles or transcripts. What Joe actually meant was that the age of entitlement is over — unless you’re:
- Building “tourism infrastructure”;
- Getting a grant and not a “co-investment”;
- Not operating in a perfectly free market;
- In a marginal seat;
- The financial planning industry;
- A high-income earner;
- The big banks;
- A private school;
- A private health fund;
- Redeveloping the Prime Minister’s local footy ground;
- Rorting fringe benefits tax;
- A major carbon emitter;
- A transnational mining company; and
- An MP or senator.
In which case it’s fine — you’ll be looked after.
– a farmer
….an investor, buying property and negative gearing it!
No Wynn, only drought stricken farmers and only if they want to take on more debt. If they are orchardists in the SPC Ardmona catchment tough titties.
Hugh yes very good point, although in the fullness of time I’ll be surprised if they leave the SPC suppliers completely high and dry (though I suppose they might reason there are casualties in every war). It’s also not right to put farmers in the bucket with the other rent-seekers, my point was they are traditional conservative voters.
What an absolutely typical puerile editorial. This is the sort of shallow commentary replete in letters to the editor. You know, Holden is going and someone says “What about MP’s pay!!!”
There’s no discussion to be found here about reining in the out of control social welfare beast that is gobbling up an ever greater slice of taxpayers’ money or locking in eternal deficits EC style. There’s not even any comment regarding that word much abused by Labor and the unions – fairness.
Nope, just a low rent unfunny poke at the government.