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tagged: bonus, Christmas hand-out, City Rail, DOCS, economy, GFC, government bonus, Jessica Irvine, Macquarie, public transpirt, Sydney Morning HeraldNotes for Votes
Posted by Claire Connelly in Politics
Written without even one hint of irony, Jessica Irvine makes me so frigging angry, I don’t even know where to begin.
Aside from the fact that the article is a “how-to-guide” on spending your government Christmas hand-out published in the opinion section rather than an analysing economic decisions, this whole “here’s $1000, go shop” thing is a frigging terrible decision.
It has been executed by someone with no knowledge of how to handle an economy and signed off on by a narcissist so desperate to increase his approval ratings, that he will do anything (including moving hell-and-high water, guiding our budget into a deficit) to get it.
In an ordinary situation, if the government gave everyone $1000 most people, like it or not, are likely to save it. But in the midst of an economic crisis, the situation is quite different – they’re definitely going to save it. Thus defeating the entire purpose of stimulating the economy!
I can think of more than a handful of better uses this money could have gone to:
How about taking every bonus of $1000 given to Australian pensioners, parents, and carers and put it towards fixing public transport. More people will be able to travel to work, contributing to a more competitive job market – people will have greater range of choices and locations for employment knowing they can confidently travel on a system that is reliable.
Moreover with a solid public transport system, Australia can have more than one lucrative business area.
For example Macquarie is due to be the next “business centre” in Sydney as businesses are planning to relocate offices to the area, if it weren’t for the faulty public transport system that exists there.
An entire business park stays empty, waiting to house lucrative businesses.
This would provide better employment opportunities for people on the North Shore, businesses wouldn’t have to waste as much money on parking, less people would have to drive, further reducing carbon emissions – everybody wins.
Here’s another idea, instead of giving people $1000 for Christmas, take that very same amount and put it towards fixing Sydney ferries. Better yet privatise Sydney ferries and put the money towards City Rail and Buses.
Privatising ferries will increase services, jobs, and boat maintenance, leaving more money in the budget for Buses and City Rail. Combining the alternative Christmas spend with the revenue shared between two public transport systems instead of three, would go a long way towards fixing our public transport system.
Moreover, with a better ferry service to the western suburbs, development will increase, attracting businesses and house buyers due to it’s proximity to the city, resulting in better employment and increased spending in the retail industry and rising property prices.
Speaking of the western suburbs, if Kevin has to give people $1000 for Christmas, can’t he make it $950 and use the rest of the money on buying some red paint for a permanent bus lane on Victoria road? That way people will be forced out of cars and on to public transport, resulting in faster peak hour traffic, and more money for Sydney buses due to an increase in revenue because more people are buying travel passes, also increasing public transport jobs due to the increase in services.
(And it’ll be better for me because it will shutup the rich, selfish, residents living below the Iron Cove bridge who I have to put up with bitching and whining about a proposal to widen the bridge to create another lane).
Here’s another idea, instead of taxing us for using the roads which never get fixed; (because contrary to popular opinion, our taxes don’t fix roads, it goes into a lump sum which the government decides how to spend;) take all the money that won’t be spent this Christmas and put it towards fixing roads in this country, that way there’s better access to medical care, delivery of medications and health-care products, allowing access for ambulances, police, and firemen and women to remote areas.
Further it would help to facilitate access for the Telstra vans who will be better able to provide an urgently needed internet service to people living in remote areas of Australia.
It will also allow child safety services and other government services access to other remote communities and ensure the safety of children and people everywhere.
Better yet, fix DOCS (Department of Childrens Services) – a system so devoid of funds and hemorraging staff by the second, nothing could be more important than child welfare in Australia.
Take the funds that won’t go to Lowes, or other Australian retailers, and help ensure the safety of thousands of orphans and foster home children for Christmas.
That gift – would be invaluable.
But we all know that the government would never liberally spend to actually fix a problem. When we’ve asked them why in the past, they’ve argued that its irresponsible fiscal spending.
Which is why not only is this $1000 hand-out financially irresponsible – with little return on investment – it’s bribery: Notes for Votes.
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