Let’s have a bit of a laugh now in case the PM’s talk tonight is not funny. Enjoy the cartoon!

  • fizzle@quokk.au
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    4 days ago

    Well, “criticism” should be a normal and healthy part of governance, and certainly they shouldn’t be scared of criticism. However, just because there’s no real opposition doesn’t mean the government should be reckless and disregard the the population’s concerns.

    When I said “people would complain” I guess I mean, any action will disadvantage a sub set of the population.

    For example, if you mandate WFH then people in inner city cafes will be laid off, if you ration fuel then there’s less money for people working in holiday destinations.

    Right now there’s a lot of uncertainty but there’s a likelihood of a recession. Any kind of action right now from the PM’s office like mandates or rationing will kill consumer sentiment and make a recession a certainty.

    As I said, I reckon the best thing the govt can do for everyone including those at the bottom of the economic hierarchy is to put some pressure on those countries receiving our LNG to reciprocate.

    • minimumchips@aussie.zone
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      4 days ago

      Yeah I get where you’re coming from. I’m doing OK myself, I earn an average wage as an engineer. I pay 40 percent of my income to rent, but I’m not struggling because I have a basic life. I chose not to have a car. Bike everywhere. But I think about people like my sister, who lives on disability support and relies on food donations. I’m worried that the flow on effects will result in rent increases again. I wish the gov would entertain rent caps. There are some people in this country who have no safety margin at all, and they are falling through the cracks.

    • budget_biochemist@slrpnk.net
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      4 days ago

      As I said, I reckon the best thing the govt can do for everyone including those at the bottom of the economic hierarchy is to put some pressure on those countries receiving our LNG to reciprocate.

      Why not limit the most excessive uses of fuel? Private jets should be restricted so more fuel is reserved for essential trips. Combustion car races, use of yachts etc could be suspended until they replace with electric or the crisis is over.

      I would prefer to see fuel rationed for the most important uses rather than the government cut tax on it to make it cheaper for the most wasteful people to use it all up.

      • fizzle@quokk.au
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        4 days ago

        I guess this is the criticism and conjecture that strengthens democracy.

        As i said, these types of actions guarantee a recession.

        • budget_biochemist@slrpnk.net
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          3 days ago

          Telling rich people they can’t waste fuel on their own jets and have to travel on a commercial airliner would guarantee a recession?

          • fizzle@quokk.au
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            3 days ago

            Yes, absolutely.

            Sentiment is everything. If you signal to people that they should be worried, discretionary spending shrivels up.