IMHO, Likeable Mike has failed to address many caller questions and makes some statements that I'd love to see "fact checked".

Here is the interview from today's. Wendy Harmer program on 702-ABC

Do you think his effort was open and honest or did you detect some weasel word, side steps and maybe a fib or three? Let me know what you think in the comments.

There is a zinger at the end where Wendy invites Likeable Mike to return on a regular basis... A genuine warm invitation... His reply? Wendy I'd love to come back.. aha ha ha ha!!!! A commitment as firm as aeroplane jelly!

Listen here...

Your Tax Records - Processed in Manila?

How do you think this will go down with the voting public?

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs ----- In The Philippines.




From the linked piece



...Community and Public Sector Union national president Alistair Waters says he is not convinced by the ATO's assurances about data and security.

"It will be very concerning to the Australian community that the ATO and the Turnbull government took this decision without letting Australians know it was even happening," Mr Waters said.

"The reality is that the ATO is now transmitting data overseas and this increases the risks of individual Australian's privacy being breached.

"Offshoring ATO IT development appears completely at odds with what the Prime Minister has said about supporting and developing Australian innovation.

"If this government had not cut the jobs of around one in five tax workers, this so called 'support' in the form of sending tax work overseas may well not be necessary," Mr Waters said.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/manila-calling-public-services-philippines-frolic-revealed-20160119-gm8y3r.html?rand=4898003#ixzz3xkGwIrWg
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I've just seen one of those silly "Refugees get triple welfare" stories being circulated again!

Please share this information. I repeat please share this information.

Refugee entitlements to social security

Refugees—that is, people who have been granted a Protection visa—do not receive higher benefits than other social security recipients.

In general, Australian Government payments are only available to people who reside in Australia and are either Australian citizens or holders of permanent visas. When an asylum seeker is granted refugee status they become permanent residents of Australia. They have the same entitlements as all other permanent residents.[22] There are no special refugee payments or special rates of payments for refugees.

To Read More, Click Here

So you like "Likeable Mike".... Please, reconsider... our future depends on it!

Have a good look at what Likeable Mike has done to your chances of increasing YOUR qualifications or those of you children....

The cartoon is well done and comical but the result is dire.

When is NSW going to wake up?

Likeable Mike and Our Gladys... still at it!

They came in with promises to fix it all. It seems that the promises are going by the wayside. On top of all that the OPAL will cost most travellers more due to the "rectification of a glitch".

Disappointment all around on public transport at the moment it would seem.

When you have a government that is happy to divide an 8 car train in to two 4 car set-ups and call that a doubling of the service, then the travellers are bound to be disappointed...

Why Sydney's train promises don't add up

There is a war going on in Australia

There is a war in Australia right now and the combatants are the Federal Govt and The Public Servants - serving and retired.

What a disgraceful government!

Some consultation would have been nice.... However this appears to be how this was brought down (correct me if I am wrong)

"The Department of Human Services has confirmed that nearly 35,000 pensioners had been sent word that some or all of their age pension would be cut, effective from January 1.

"34,820 letters were ... issued to customers in mid-December, notifying of a new payment rate or cancellation of their payment from 1 January 2016, as a result of changes to their income and assets," a departmental spokeswoman said."

Click here for more...

Bait and switch or simple mistake?

Is this a deceptive bait & switch or did they just get this very wrong?

During the 2015 NSW Election campaign I spoke with many people that had concerns ranging from extra cost to preferring not to be "in credit" on a card they would seldom use. Some just didn't trust the government to do the right thing...

It looks like the concerns of those folks have a good basis. Most Opal card users WILL PAY MORE after unheralded changes to how and when charges will be applied.

It looks like there was insufficient attention to detail before the roll out... A cynic might suggest there was intent in this situation.

I can tell you, that when I called the OPAL HELP DESK on behalf of voters (with their enquiries) I was informed that the process and application of the system would be dictated by the rate of take up in the community. With a card that offers free travel on the 9th trip and all subsequent trips, take up by the most frequent of the regular travellers was bound to be swift.

The increase in revenue to the government after the rejig takes place is huge. Travellers will be out of pocket!

Likable Mike, have you done the bait and switch on millions of us?

SMH report here

Listening is VITAL. Beware of Weasel Words!

It is VITAL that we listen to what is actually said when matters such as the forced merger of Councils are unfolding in front of us.

Here is a piece from the SMH that reinforces that point.

Have a look in this story [click here], where Likeable Mike talks about his "strong preference" - The phrase is classic example of "weasel words"... Offered in a manner to be convincing and strong, but making no commitment.

I have no doubt, that this is NOT about fulfilling the wishes of the majority of the community and will not be of benefit to the majority of the community.

Whatever the result I will continue to push for more inclusion of the community and I will push for better services and amenity for the community. At present I am trying to ensure that our community get the opportunity to state their preference regarding mergers in a council run poll.

Where will Likable Mike find $6,800,000,000.00 ?

Anthony Albanese has blown the whistle on a $6.8billion blow out on the controversial Westconnex project... aka "The road to nowhere".

I am wondering which part of NSW will miss out on that $6.8bil, the money has to come from somewhere....

Read more here

What will save us?

There are two things that must be avoided if we are to dodge the Barnaby Joyce bullet.
1. BJ must be defeated in the seat of New England....
2. The LNP must not be re-elected.

Those are your instructions, the rest is up to you.

More info here

I expect better from a Senator

This is an out and out disgrace. I expect better from a Senator, even one that got themself elected using a bag of tricks.

The use of this language by this Senator, especially so publicly and at this time when the behaviour of elected reps is under such scrutiny, shows very poor judgement.

There is no place in the Australian Senate for a person with such little judgment.

More details here.

Thousands petition the Government over pathology services

This Government just keeps getting it wrong...

More than 29,000 people have signed a petition against a supposed $30 charge for pap smears, as outrage grows against the federal government's changes to the way it pays pathology providers under the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Click here for the Pap smear petition.

Wow... How did he think this was alright?

You already know the story, I am sure.

This nasty piece of work has made it clear that he wants to remain in politics... This even though thousands are calling for him to resign.

I recently spoke to a person that says they had contacted him with an important matter and had been left waiting for further contact. They were assured that someone would be in touch..... The person is an AM [Member of the Order of Australia] and has had dealings previously with him. They are livid.

Please help me promote this petition, we cannot sit back and expect the right thing will happen, we must act. At this stage our current PM is sitting on his hands, the Immigration Minister clearly support Briggs and he was on the committee that looked into how to react to the incident in the first place!!! What a despicable state of affairs!

 http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/jamie-briggs-must-leave-parliament