Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[KarenS]

Are you able to receive ndsi I think that's what it is. My mother is 75 and receives it which helps her with a cleaner, lawn mowing and subsidies meals.
If you do get it try Light n easy great meals and is subsidies by NDIS

NDIS is not available to those over 65. The former government probably thought if you prayed hard enough, you'd get a miracle cure, and suddenly become no longer disabled on your 65th birthday ... Your mother probably has a Home Care Package via MyAgedCare - these also cover some of the things covered by NDIS, but by no means all of them, unfortunately - ask anyone over 65 who needs a new wheel-chair or a new/replacement prosthesis!!
Unfortunately the My Aged Care things require an application and assessment process which is complex, hard to navigate and negotiate, and really difficult for those who aren't all that tech-savvy, and have trouble doing it all on-line. And if you get one thing wrong, or leave something out, it automatically says you aren't eligible! You need someone to assist you the applications, assessments, and then the selection of providers who [specially in non-metropolitan areas] are hard to find, and not at all transparent either. There are people who can help - family who care, church or community groups, some Councils, for example, but it is still a cow of a system, and grossly unfair, specially for those who have been on NDIS, as they don't automatically transition to My Aged Care, but have to go through the whole dismal process all over again!

 

[maxesmum]

I too always paid for my electricity and gas on a fortnightly payment plan to avoid bill shock. The best thing I have done in recent years was to get solar. For the first year of having it I still paid a nominal $10 per fortnight into the account but since then I have been in an increasing credit. I export far more to the grid than I use, I use all my appliances during the day using my own electricity so at night there's only one light and the TV to use their electricity. It has been by far one of the best purchases I have ever made and has already paid for itself as I haven't had to actually pay Origin anything for the past 4 years!

This would be my dream! But I have government rental. That said,I’m due a property upgrade soonish and they might consider some solar panels. No harm in asking,eh?

 

[Janice Reilly]

I am a single 75 year old pensioner. My eye tests are all bulk billed and so are visits to my GP. I don’t have private health cover so visits to my specialist are out of pocket less the Medicare rebate. I fortunately own my own home which of course involves paying out for Council rates and insurance and on going maintenance. I can manage on my pension provided I am frugal and don’t spend unnecessarily.

 

[Maurice_McGahey]

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[Maurice_McGahey]

It should be remembered that the current "inflation" is not economic inflation at all! The current price gouging is greed fuelled by companies including quassie companies that are actually owned by states and run by "the smartest guys in the room". QANTAS is a perfect example of this. The Australian government is still the major shareholder of QANTAS and it should have moved that Alan Joyce be removed years ago! The power generation and transmission companies are run by entitled, well connected idiots and the supermarket chains have far too comfy duopolies. This "wealth culture" has been the culture and policy of the Coalition of Liberal and National parties for the past nine years. Do not blame the Labor Government who are now trying to repair three terms of economic vandalism driven by ideology that has proven not to work. The best that we can hope for is that construction on bigger gaols for the last lot will help the economy.

A nation is wealthy when all its people are living in healthy educated comfort, not when a few company directors and their political lap dogs are living in excess.

 

[Lynjw]

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Definitely need price caps.

 

[Sunshine247]

Sorry but why are we paying so much, if anything, for childcare when they are not our children. I am 69 years old and choose to continue to work full time to try and preserve my mental faculties. At 17 and one of the swinging 60's people, I suffered through a disastrous and abusive "shotgun marriage". I was a single parent at age 19! Never married again but worked full time since then and managed to private school my child through to Uni. No handouts, unpaid maintenance by father, no childcare - I just had to manage. In 50 years of working, I certainly have paid my fair share of taxes only to see them squandered on people who did not want to work, others who abused the system and in the past few years, paid for other peoples' children to attend child care. Why in this day and age when it is so difficult for pensioners to make ends meet, is the Govt still increasing childcare handouts only for the childcare centres to increase their profits? It is certainly not going into increased wages for the personnel.
Australia's economy has been highjacked by the minority socialist lefties to the detriment of the majority of the people. Nothing we can do to right this wrong now. We voted in a socialist government and now have to wear it. I am employed in the building industry which has seen a severe downturn since Labor won power. This happens every time Labor wins - private industry loses confidence in the general economy. We are in for a lot more pain over the next few years so tighten your belts folks we're in for a bumpy ride.

Very commendable. It's a case of managing your budget and sticking to it. That's what we all must do to survive .

 

[Tony@51]

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[Tony@51]

The government is well aware of the greed of the electricity providers and does nothing that I can see to stop it. We are utilising the earths resources at an alarming rate with no thought for later generations. When they are gone what will

The government purse is not limitless but when electricity companies are led by greed and getting as much as they can out of consumers at whatever cost, then the government has to put a stop to it. There is no waffle here. The treasurer has an unenviable task, I agree, but it is within the governments power to put a stop to these increases. They can increase the company tax AND put a cap on prices so that Fiona and her like do not have to worry about where cost of the next meal or doctor's visit is coming from. The government should be looking after the people who elected them and not the bottom line of providers balance sheets. But does this happen? Ask Fiona!!

There is a simple way to fix DROP the net zero bull and OK nuckea

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

There are two ways to make life cheaper for us Stop this net zero stupidity it will make no difference to world co2 in real terms . Allow nuclear energy for cheap power instead of unreliable solar and wind.

 

[Defiant540]

Are you able to receive ndsi I think that's what it is. My mother is 75 and receives it which helps her with a cleaner, lawn mowing and subsidies meals.
If you do get it try Light n easy great meals and is subsidies by NDIS

NDIS - Google Search

 

[Maurice_McGahey]

Very commendable. It's a case of managing your budget and sticking to it. That's what we all must do to survive .

"Australia's economy has been highjacked by the minority socialist lefties ..." and

"I certainly have paid my fair share of taxes only to see them squandered on people who did not want to work, others who abused the system and in the past few years, paid for other peoples' children to attend child care."

Let us address your first point first -
Australia's economy has been run by both Coalition AND Labor governments who have subscribed to the "Neoliberalism" theory of economics since the ousting of the Whitlam Labor Government. Neoliberalism, first proposed in 1930s Germany as a foil to Marxist socialism, has had plenty of time to be tweaked and get working. It doesn't work because its main tennant is that if you allow the wealthy ... and they mean REALLY WEALTHY ... to make the rules (if any) and allow those wealthy to earn as much as they can there will be a "trickle down" effect where the "Not Wealthy" will gain crumbs off the table. The trouble is there is NO trickle down effect. The wealthy continue to hoard wealthy and they ship it offshore where it can be hoarded, never to come back to Australia ... even if a set of politicians wake up and change legislation.

We are now in a situation where the wealthiest media baron in the World ... a man who is not even an Australian citizen anymore ... decides electoral wins with his massive media power! We are not even a democracy anymore!

Your second point -
YES, you probably HAVE paid your fair share of taxes. You don't sound like you are extremely wealthy. Only the wealthy get to pay taxes at 10% or less. You have probably paid taxes throughout your life at around 33% to 40% if you are a wage earner. However, those taxes, including fuel excise and GST (sales tax before that) have not been "squandered on people who did not want to work etc". Much has gone to wealth corporations as subsidies because those corporations threaten to close down and put people into unemployment. Wealthy corporations and the ultra-wealthy people that benefit from them have our governments over a barrel. The media continue the lie that, "You have to pay such high taxes because there are so many people who won't work." while the truth is, You, a wage earner who cannot afford a team of accountants and lawyers, have to pay high taxes because the wealthy and their corporations REFUSE to pay taxes and have their hands out for every government dollar that they can scam.

You have to stop watching Sky News and former school bullies like Paul Murray (Nazis are socialists) and Peta "Creditless" Credlin. Murdoch, Stokes and Costello media pushes disinformation (we used to call it brainwashing) and reality TV shows (scripted emotive rubbish) that rot your mind.

 

[ANGRYSAGITARRIAN]

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[ANGRYSAGITARRIAN]

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Its about time that chalmers should pull its head in how rude a man this POS is how dare he speak to a woman like this!!! would he speak to his mother or wife the way it did!! Im on disability pension on that I am paying a mortgage insurance health insurance. insurance for home and car!!!! Im finding it very hard on what I receive on a DSP its about time all politicians tried living on what we receive monthly then they can make comments!!! Its because the idiots that voted labor in we are in the state we are in albo can tell the RESERVE BANK to stop raising the interest rates but he refuses to do so!! you dont see them going without albo went on 10 overseas trips before December and took its girlfriend with it!!! you all thought we had it bad with Scott Morrison and Liberals in I can tell you I was better off when they were in I'm worse off now than I have ever been!!! And the idiot we have in SA as a premier he is just as bad!!! Pensioners need to be on $3,000 a month those of who have mortgages Married couples should have their pensioners at least $3750 or $4,000!!! Those on Unemployment Benefits who can smoke and drink need their benefits cut as alcohol and cigarettes arent a necessity!!! I could say more but Centrelink are about to close their doors

 

[Alexander]

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

The government should increase its income!!! End of story. Multi nationals and huge business conglomerates pay accountants huge amounts to avoid paying tax. Make them pay their fair share and use that to fund the Job seeker's allowance to above a poverty level. Tax Board Director's bonuses at 90 % or 95 % because they are doing nothing to contribute to the country's GDP. I know the poor are always with us but we must make sure that they have a home or the means to find one. "Greed," as John Howard is quoted as saying, "is good." Greed is not and never will be good. Tax these conglomerates on turnover and not income. That will avoid all sorts of dodges because bank accounts will have to be kept up to shape.

Considering the progressive surge in the cost of living lately, it’s only right that we are all looking to the future with the hope of seeing a promising outlook. While many are rejoicing at possible wage growth, there are others whose situation has worsened.

Many pensioners are going through the motions every single day, barely able to scrape by. It’s anxiety-inducing and it shouldn’t be happening.

Fiona, who was in the live audience with other pensioners for Treasurer Jim Chalmers' post-budget Q+A appearance on Thursday night, asked if there was anything she could do to help herself overcome her dire financial circumstances, as she struggles with the surging cost of living.

‘With non-discretionary items rising faster than CPI indexation, welfare recipients like myself are meant to be grateful for (the rise to indexation). What essentials should I be cutting from my budget?’

As part of the routine indexation, the Age, Carer and Disability Support Pensioners will receive a $38.90 increase in the fortnightly allowance for single people and $58.80 for each couple.

After asking the Treasurer what necessities she should forego, a retiree with $20 in her bank account received a grim response. Credit: ABC.

But Fiona expressed that it was still not enough, saying: 'It’s all falling behind. I’m playing catch up.'

The question left Chalmers stumped, as he explained that the government needed to be careful not to make things worse as they straddled a fine line between making sure the economy is okay and guaranteeing that people can still manage.

'The best thing we can do is try and address inflation. That’s what the budget was about,' he explained.

'But I don’t want to pretend to Fiona or to anyone in Fiona’s position that the budget nine nights ago fixed all of these challenges.'

'I do need to be upfront with all of you about the nature of this challenge that we are confronting right now.'

'And our best contribution to this problem is being restrained in our spending.'

Chalmers also emphasised that the government's first budget was 'simple', but as the cost of essentials continues to outpace the growth of welfare payments, is it really 'bread and butter' for struggling Australian households?



Due to the rising cost of living, many Australians are struggling to get by, and some are even falling into deeper financial crises.

It should also be noted that during the online broadcast, Stan Grant, the Q+A host, noticed that Fiona's question focused more on the difficult decisions she was having to make.

For example, she said that she had to choose between getting her eyes checked or seeing a doctor because her GP no longer offered bulk billing.

This observation prompted him to call on Chalmers for more in-depth advice.

However, Chalmers declined to provide Fiona with a direct response. Instead, he said that he recognised the challenges faced by Fiona and others in her situation.

'The cost of living is going through the roof, and that has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable amongst us, and we understand that,' he added.

'My responsibility to you, Fiona, and to the whole country, is to try and take the right economic decisions, to make sure we are not making inflation worse.'

According to Chalmers, this year's inflation is expected to continue to worsen before peaking.

'Nobody has a perfect crystal ball,' he remarked.

'But the expectations of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury is that this inflation challenge will get a bit worse until the end of the year.'

'The main thing I can do here – the worst thing that could happen for Fiona and for people around Australia – is if we let this inflation get out of control… That’s what I’m trying to avoid.'

In a later statement, Chalmers claimed that he planned to present a 'costed plan with detail' to address the rise in energy prices before Christmas.

He said that the government was thinking about using price controls, subsidies, and taxes but that it would prefer to use regulation.

He said: 'We have a little more work to do on this… But I want to reassure people that we know that electricity price rises are… Intensifying.'

Key Takeaways

• Age pensioners are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and are having to make tough choices about which essentials to go without.
• Jim Chalmers is struggling to offer hope to pensioners, as he warns inflation is just going to get worse and the government has to straddle a fine line or risk negatively impacting the situation.
• He says the best thing the government can do to try and address inflation is to be restrained in their spending.

Pensions are a crucial, staple part of Australians' finances here in the country. Many Australians rely, at least somewhat, on their pension payments to get by and to keep their heads above water financially.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the government should implement price caps and subsidies to ease the burden of soaring utility prices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!