Future fears

It sent shivers down my spine, not for me as I am retired after 55 years in the workforce, but for future citizens.

Maurice Newman speaks of the high cost of labour making Australia uncompetitive; I doubt if he will lead by example and demand that any fees, commissions or salaries that he receives from now on should reflect the basic wage.

Then we had a report that the Productivity Commission wanted to raise the retirement age (poor us for staying healthy and living longer) to 70.

Yet the Federal Coalition still want to give subsidies to those on high incomes, except for Joe Hockey, who rightly would like to reduce welfare dependency.

On the other hand, Richard Goyder of Westfarmers, the country’s biggest employer, realises that people on the basic wage need to put food on the table and the pay rates were manageable.

The Productivity Commission goes on to talk about people using the equity in their homes to fund their health and age care needs. Do they realise that people on low incomes are struggling to survive now with rental housing in short supply and state housing at a premium.

Just walk through the city in the early morning to see the number of people rugged up in doorways. Every week we read another report of people with children having to sleep in their cars.

I suppose the next gem of inspiration from Tony’s advisers will be to re-introduce Victorian-style workhouses for the under-employed, displaced children and those people aged and infirm.

It is time these shortsighted committees focused outside the square to see where the real waste is, that is likely staring them in the face.