BBloke 09/07/10 09:34 PM Report Abuse

Bring back the homosexual rights debate!

ironman 11/07/10 10:23 PM Report Abuse

No mention about unfair dismissal laws. Some of the workchoice laws were valid and good for the people and the economy. But the unfair dismissal laws were not. If you don't bring back the unfair dismissal laws you are in with the best fighting chance, but if you do bring them back you simply won't be re-elected. Get it right this time.

Tess 14/07/10 11:05 PM Report Abuse

How do I get an answer from the Liberal party that clearly states that they are not supporting the internet filter or are family first frightening them?

Mark Gailey 14/07/10 11:44 PM Report Abuse

The Government keeps spruiking that the budget will return to surplus in 2012.

The question really is "When will the government be free of debt"! In the meantime this government will be racking up more debt for at least the next two years before it breaks even .........then the job begins for the next generation to pay the taxes to start paying off this government's debts.

This labor Government started off with accumulated surpluses, they quickly ran them dry, then threw money away on a litany of failed and mismanaged projects that cannot be condoned as a necessary part of the stimulus package.

You must not get into a bidding war (as happened at the last election). Your economic credentials are at risk. You must get the above message across, then say that we need to begin on the road to reducing government debt, otherwise, if there is another major downturn, we won't have the capacity to stimulate the economy because we already carry too much debt!

JPH 15/07/10 07:09 PM Report Abuse

If the Coalition is serious about supporting small business it would start announcing its plans in regards to the unfair dismissal law exemption rate, which currently sits at the abysmal, ineffective rate of just 15 employees or less!

Obviously we cannot go back to the extreme unfair dismissal exemption rate under WorkChoices of 100 employees or less, however I think the Coalition needs to start talking specific numbers rather than in broad statements. I personally believe 25 employees or less is a great figure, much higher than the currently useless rate of anti small business Labor, which stands at 15 employees or less.

If the Coalition is serious about helping small business it will announce a figure similar to this one as soon as possible!

Lyn Osman 17/07/10 03:25 PM Report Abuse

Dear Mr Abbott and team
Please please some new policies to attract the voters.
- No more selling off our land - houses, apartments, farms, hotels, businesses etc - so that Australians will own Australia in the future. The Indonesians and Japanese do not sell to foreigners (unless one of the couple is a citizen). I presume these funds help with the balance of payments (a little) but please STOP THIS NOW.
- Australia supplies ALL goods for itself - leather for shoes, textiles for clothing and manchester, food of all sorts, energy (govts to run instrumentalities - a bit late).
- Dams be build strategically to harness all the rainwater which runs into the sea.
Go well - we rely on you.

CC 18/07/10 12:19 PM Report Abuse

Disappointed in response to JGillard at yesterdays press conference. Golden opportunity lost to come across and strong, positive and decisive and it was blown!

Agree with Mark Gailey comments
"You must not get into a bidding war (as happened at the last election). Your economic credentials are at risk. You must get the above message across, then

say that we need to begin on the road to reducing government debt,

otherwise, if there is another major downturn, we won't have the capacity to stimulate the economy because we already carry too much debt! "


Time to put egos on the back burner and get out in the electorates with a very positive campaign.

joeblog 19/07/10 08:46 AM Report Abuse

Julia does not believe in god or marriage...so just let it be known that she is morally weak and socially bankrupt.

Andrew Stevens 19/07/10 01:20 PM Report Abuse

I am astonished that Tony Abbott is unable to have 2 interviews and convey the same message. Is the work choice policy dead and burried or not?

The work choice policy lost John Howard the last election, does Tony want to loose this election on the same policy?

Not another Labour government. Tony owes likeminded voters (me) to clarify this issue once and for all.

Barrie Sutherland 19/07/10 01:46 PM Report Abuse

My wife and I run a Gallery under a partnership structure. Labour's policy proposals are useless for our business:
1. Reducing company tax is no help to us.
2. Increasing the superannuation rate as an offset to taxing the mining industry doesn't help us to employ people.
3. Unfair dismissal laws as they stand do not help us employ people.

Scott Haks 19/07/10 03:39 PM Report Abuse

WE HAD KEVIN IN 07
DON'T LET JULIA FOOL YA
AGAIN IN 10

Michelle 19/07/10 07:50 PM Report Abuse

Not sure if anyone will read this - but just hope that by getting Labour out someone will really do something for working families. I work fulltime for a Job Service provider and my husband is a tradesman we also have 4 children. Because we work no one helps us and to sendf our children to uni or better themselves is all at our own hard working expense, it hurts to know that if you obtain benifts mostv things come for free - how the hell does that make people what to go to work each day to make there lives better. They have created communities of poeple that all expect something for nothing, its hard to explain to our kids to have good work ethics when most of their friends are getting youth payments or newstart. Need someon to really do somethink for people that pay taxes and try to make a better lift for themself by not expecting something for nothing or at least offer the working family kids the same assistance as people get that dont contribute.

Jackie Bowden 20/07/10 08:51 AM Report Abuse

There is only one fact facing voters in this election. The fact is "We can't afford you Julia"

james 20/07/10 01:56 PM Report Abuse

I know for sure that when I vote for a Liberal leader that is the person that is going to go the full term as leader. As for the Labour Party I am not quite sure as to who will be the Leader at the end of the term.?????

Rejapo 20/07/10 11:15 PM Report Abuse

Dear Mr Abbott,

WE NEED YOU! AND YOUR PARTY!!!

In this time, right now, Australia leads leadership...
Australia needs a Goverment that knows how to deal with money and mange properly an ecomony...
Australia needs a Government with sound, developed policies on major issues e.g. Asylum Seekers, Global Warming, repayment of debt, stopping the rubbish spending which occured under the preivous Rudd/ Gillard Govt...
You and the rest of the coalition are the one to do this...
It is what is best for Australia, you know it, I know it...
I just hope the rest of the Australian people will know it, when they go to the ballots on August 21st...
The Coalition has present a strong direction, the ALP has present a flithy, dirty campaign full of slogans and catch phrases in an attempt to win votes...
We can only hope that is does not work, and the deserving Party, that wants what is best for the country, and not just for their own hubris, will win!

ALL the best, goodluck, and I hope to see you Mr Abbott and your party in power for the next term of Government!!!!!!!!!!

Sincerly,
Reece 18 yo student, NSW.

Lee Kuzmanovic 22/07/10 05:24 PM Report Abuse

Mr Abbott,
PLease review the National Prequalification System being developed by Department of Infrastructure , Energy and Resources.
This is being developed now without proper industry consultation and will cost small and medium business.
Only small and medium businesses in the Construction Industry are owned locally. This system will force these out of business, and encourage multinationals. as you know all profits and taxes will leave the country.

Regards,
Lee mum of 6 and business owner.

smi 7 23/07/10 11:19 PM Report Abuse

A fine point indeed made by Rejapo on 20/07/10 at 11:15 PM. I wholeheartedly support your views with respect to this and i believe that you articulated this in a very decisive and intelligent mannor, bravo.

Harry Gee 24/07/10 07:22 PM Report Abuse

Dear Mr. Abbott
This idea with the Small Business and family enterprise is a great point that needs to be brought out to everyone. They need to know why it’s such a big issue because it creates more jobs for people and then the unemployment rate will drop. We need to state that very clear to people because the labor party isn’t doing anything about it.

Sincerely, Harry/Vic

Ashley Artis 26/07/10 11:00 AM Report Abuse

Mr Abbott
Mr Billson claims:
"An elected Abbott Coalition Government will ensure that the small business ‘engine room’ of the Australian economy gets a fair go"
May I suggest that you seriously consider lowering the dollar threshold (now $1000.00) to around $400.00 for offshore consumer purchaes free of tax, gst and other charges. The current offshore consumer purchasing is devastating Australian small businesses. Having spoken to politicians for over three years on this subject, those senior politicians that have taken the time to engage do not understand the cost of importing and holding inventory commercially.

Lindsay Rowlands 27/07/10 08:44 PM Report Abuse

The major issue facing SME's is the lack of credit available from the 4 major banks. The GFC and the Rudd Government have conspired to make the engine room of Australia bereft of access to fresh capital. What will Liberal do to fix the problem?

Kylie 04/08/10 09:28 AM Report Abuse

Mr Rowlands - no point handing out the dollars to "engine rooms" that dont have the capacity or the ability to pay it back. You don't mind espousing the unfair dismissal laws that the Rudd Government have put in place.....

Pearl 07/08/10 06:43 AM Report Abuse

If you truly want to assist small business, then stop this nonsense to be implemented by the Labor Govt - AUSTRAC to require small and large businesses alike to submit an annual report and WE HAVE TO PAY THEM $500.00 for the privilage!!!!! This will set a dangerous precedent, whereby all other Government departments who require the submission of a report can and will charge a fee! Where has common sense gone? Why should we have to pay to complete a report for a government department? Some of the Businesses required so far are Real Estate , Accountants,Financial Advisors, Newsagents,Solicitors just to name a few, apparently there is still more to come!!!!!

pierre sadaka 11/08/10 12:27 PM Report Abuse

I'm self employed in the building industry.As a renderer my job is heavily dependent on the weather and I take a lot of time off during the year and if I want ask for help form Centerlink when I can't work , I have to make a false promise that I'm gonna look for a fulltime job.Farmers get relief when the weather goes against them, how about allowing people like to get help without having to lie about their intentions

pierre sadaka 11/08/10 12:48 PM Report Abuse

GST on small jobs in the building industry .As a tradesman, I'm faced with a difficult situation when pricing small jobs for private owners who can't claim the GST: do I take the job and pay the GST from my pocket or hide that income; either way I'm at loss. How about removing the GST from small jobs say for example under $6000 witc is the average cost to render a small house.I don't mind paying the income tax on my work but to pay the GST on top of it ???

NamePearl 11/08/10 03:16 PM Report Abuse

MessageIt's about time the Federal Government forced th States to removed all Stamp Duty and other charges that were supposed to be removed following the introduction of the GST! Some Government Departments charge both! Pierre GST is on just about everything, even your bottle of coke at the corner store has a GST component. eg: all ingredients to make a cake are GST Free, but the end result Cake is GST, so in essence your manual labour to make the cake has been taxed, that's a simplistic way of explaining, so every time you expend blood sweat and tears the Government get a cut!

pepper 18/08/10 03:17 PM Report Abuse

A positive action policy is urgently needed for regional Australia..our small farmers and business ( the fabric of these communities ) are an endangered species. We spend more on preserving the hairy nosed wombat than supporting our own folk. How about some basic facilities for the country.... like funding some sealed roads instead of blowing funding on tunnels under cities. Just some tarmac in front of the house would be a help.
And then the farm gate cattle prices are about at 1972 returns while costs have risen CPI plus plus...... wages are indexed and regulated for minimum .... why not primary produce? Country People are working very hard and paying dearly for the privilege.
EPA's and Statute authority needs to be roped in.... the unreasonable cost of compliance by small business and farmers is ensuring their demise.

Mervyn Jacobi 03/11/10 09:44 AM Report Abuse

I consider it laughable but despicable that Wayne Swan rages about the high salaries and other aspects of bank charges, and many other incidents relating to overcharging of goods and services, after all, over the last five years, he is the one who is responsible for this being able to happen, he and the party have determined the conditions which allow the high salaries and the high cost of goods and services, and when the Liberal party or any other party is in power, they are responsible. They cannot blame “Global” for every fault that the party comes up with, they have to be man enough – or women – and have the integrity and decency to accept their own blame, when it applies. It is unfortunately that all parties have moron fanatics in their ranks, and don't see their own faults, It may improve.

Justin 16/02/11 11:11 PM Report Abuse

Currently small business is not playing on a level playing. It would be impossible to make it level under a global economy and anything that would try and do so would be marginal at best.

I suggest you change the tax rates for small business owners. They put their neck on the line, and their capital, and from the moment of their first sale the Government wants a piece via GST. We need to encourage more business owners and potential entrepreneurs. How about no tax payable until all set up costs are met (up to say $200,000).

Mervyn Jacobi 04/03/11 11:49 AM Report Abuse

It is ironic that apart from Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating, the rest of the Prime Ministers and treasurers have been lawyers, and they have all been the biggest lot of whimps possible. We had the best treasurers and,prime ministers in Ben Chifley and Harold Holt, Unlike the present mob, they were for our farming and manufacturing industries, the ones since 1971, have been destroying both the farming and our manufacturing as well as small business. I won't give either labor or the liberal parties a vote next election, probably just a nasty comment on the ballot paper. The party senate members are only prostitutes, they do not aim to look after their state or territory, only their party, they are useless, only capable of pulling their party out of being defeated or causing the governments decision to be defeated. Our governments are a disgrace to us, the people.

Mervyn Jacobi 13/04/11 08:33 AM Report Abuse

Bruce, Your party has been in power many times over the last forty years, If it wasn't important enough for your party then to ensure that small business survived and really did become a prosperous industry, why should these businesses believe that your party would do such a thing now. You have no pride and small businesses and our workers have poverty, John Howard saw to it that the number of unemployed was concealed by ensuring that as long as people were working at least regular one hour a week, they were listed as not unemployed. Such is the dishonesty of our members of political parties.

Sol 29/06/11 10:54 PM Report Abuse

What we need is a very simple approach to helping small business get back to what it was. Small business is the backbone of this country and all small ever gets is screwed.
If the liberal party wants the vote of small business it is simple..
Tax cuts to any small business that employs people. A sliding scale on % up to say 10 employees.
Tax cuts or bonuses starting immediately to employ long term un employed whether it be casual or full time.
When small businesses suffer, the carry on effect to the rest of the country is enormous.

Mervyn Jacobi 30/06/11 09:37 AM Report Abuse

Our treacherous governments are allowing foreign companies to buy blocks of our land and Mining contracts so that they can take a very prominent place in the destruction of our economy. The further closing of more of our industries shows that these members of the political parties have as much allegiance to Australia as the Taliban. It is unfortunate that our forces are over in Afghanistan fighting George Bush’s enemy, rather than being back in Australia, fighting our own enemies. When our Government starts to work towards rebuilding the economy of Australia I will know we once again have true Australians in our Parliament, we don’t have any yet.

Simon May 13/07/11 05:24 PM Report Abuse

Projects like this are sometimes seen and too often are white elephants. To support this I would like this body "to be seen" to actively engage a wide range of small businesses.
The passive engagement models are ineffective and fraught with the danger of being over run by minority groups to the detriment of the majority.

Mervyn Jacobi 08/09/11 03:39 PM Report Abuse

Simon May, to join a political Party, all you have to do, is to promise that you will agree with the decisions of the majority of the party. The majority of any group of people is not the most intelligent of the group, you would most likely find them sitting down in a corner wondering how the hell they happened to be in this mob.
I believe that any person or party starting a political party, would design a constitution that encompassed the ideals they were intending to achieve and would demand that - to maintain their desired intent and principles, no person would be allowed to join that party without signing that they would honour that constitution.
The existing parties do not have those properties or principles or ideals. I can only hope that the members and intending members take action in Parliament to make sure that they do not make the mistakes that we have found so abhorrent.
Our economy needs a personal top tax between 65% and 70%, and zero tax on somewhere about $30,000 to stop the obscene incomes that have occurred, and relieve the pressures on our wage earners. The Company tax should in the region of 55% on 2 billion, and zero tax on $750,000 to ensure that we get some profit from our exports, and to put restriction on the ability of the big companies and let the small businesses prosper as they used to do. It would also be beneficial for the Queensland and WA Governments to put much higher royalties on the resources they are exporting, to stop the reciprocal imports destroying our own industries.

Mervyn Jacobi 02/12/11 09:06 AM Report Abuse

The sleazy rodents who have infiltrated our parliament, will be a further degeneration to our country. Unfortunately although it was started and set up by the Labor party, when it was put into cabinet, Tony and all the members of the parties have grabbed it as if they really deserved it. What a dirty joke, it just shows that the only people who go for parliament, are just there for the money. I wish we could get honest people into parliament, don’t you?