BS: Australian election date

Subject: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 23 May 04 - 08:13 AM

rumours rumours rumours

that the election will be held on 7th August.


(Liberals have booked the Wentworth Hotel for that night)

Alexander Downer has just cancelled a visit to the US next month....



Are you enrolled to vote? once the election is announced, they won't take any further enrollments.


freda

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,Guy
Date: 23 May 04 - 11:32 AM

Interesting and very informative. Thanx.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Peace
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:40 PM

I can't register from here, freda. But then, I'm Canadian. Hope things are well.

BM

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 23 May 04 - 05:47 PM

Well, things could be well if we could just have a change of federal government. Maybe? If we could work out a way to elect people other than politicians, of course. :-)

It was nice to see Little Johnny's bid at buying the Oz public with the budget falling flat on its face. Nothing like widening the gap between rich and poor to increase your voting percentages, eh?

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 23 May 04 - 08:09 PM

If the Australian people decide to put us through another four years of Howard, Downer, Costello, and the rest of the corporate brown-nosers I'll move to New Zealand.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 23 May 04 - 10:12 PM

Three years, John. You've been reading the wrong papers. I just hope we don't get stuck with the little slimeball for even that long.

Interesting note: If my calcukations are correct, Honest John has to win the election in order to overtake Bob Hawke (another toe rag, IMHO) to become Australia's second longest serving Prime Minister after Johnny's idol, Bob Menzies. I think that is why he has stayed around so long.

I also think that Johnny has been busting for some event so he can hold an slection with a good press. His budget was supposed to do that but it fell on its face, even though the Labor Party really made a mess of its response.

Johnny's next hope is to be able to pull our troops out of Iraq as soon as the new Iraqi "government" takes over from 30 June. Then he can have homecoming parades for the troops, etc., - no matter what sort of mess is left behind in Iraq.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: DaveA
Date: 23 May 04 - 11:01 PM

Back in the 80's when Malcolm Frazer was PM & little Johnnie was his Treasurer, Eric Bogle had a song called "Batman & Boy Blunder". I remember him saying at a gig that he didn't know how to respond to the election result that got rid of the pair of them but also made redundant many of his topical songs!!!

Eric, are you prepared to sacrifice a few more to finally bury that "survive at all costs" maniac who is dragging this country down???

Please.....

DaveA

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 23 May 04 - 11:19 PM

I'd say it's a toss-up, should he go for an election now because things might
get worse, or wait in the hope that Latham will make some irretrievable   
blunder, which given Latham's tendency to shoot from the lip, could easily
happen. Either way, one can only hope that if Labor DO win, they will show
that they can do better than the Hawke or Keating governments.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 24 May 04 - 12:18 AM

What if little Johnny Dick-In-Ear gets re-elected and George Dubya Dick-In-Ear doesn't?
I expect he will gracefully stand aside and hand the helm to young Peter Dick-In-Ear.

Hrothgar,
My mistake, three years.
I've been reading too many American threads on the same subject and with surprisingly similar sentiments being expressed - hope and dread mainly.

An interesting year, this one.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: DaveA
Date: 24 May 04 - 01:17 AM

With all due respect to the preceding guest, the day John Howard "gracefully stands aside" for anyone is the day I will expect to see a whole squadron of flying objects with curly tails & apples in their mouths!!!

As the politician who came up with "Core" & "non Core" policies and destroyed the Westminster system in this country, the coupling of "grace" with his modus operandi is somewhere between an oxymoron & offensive.

Alas for my country - who was it who said we get the politicians we deserve!!!!

DaveA

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Blackcatter
Date: 24 May 04 - 01:26 AM

Hear that George W. wants in on the race.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 24 May 04 - 02:57 AM

"....If the Australian people decide to put us through another four years of Howard, Downer, Costello, and the rest of the corporate brown-nosers I'll move to New Zealand.".......
Hate to say it Guest John, but it never seems to make much difference what the Australian people actually want, they only get what the pollies and their backers decide to give us to choose from. And it doesn't seem to matter who gets in, 'cos it's always the same s**t, only the depth changes - and they're standing on our shoulders.

Personally, I'd rather have no party politics, no nominations, no candidates, no electioneering, and everybody eligible to be voted for..... Oh, and national average wages for elected representatives. That should stop the professional politicians from polluting government. They can go get jobs with their mates in the big businesses they've sold off or frightened off, and let some honest people do the job for Australia, not for the party or the money.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 24 May 04 - 06:15 AM

I happened to hear a sound byte from Little Johnny on tv defending his budget. He was asked why the lower income earners were totally missing out on tax cuts. He replied that by giving the tax cuts to the people who earn $50,000 and more he was providing an incentive to lower income earners to increase their income.

'Scuse me while I pick my chin up off the floor. What percentage of the workforce are struggling to get a job at all, let alone a permanent/secure job with holiday pay and sick leave, and what percentage of us - even with degrees upon degrees - are still trying to make ends meet on wages that are below the national average, and how does he propose to help us to get jobs worth $50K per annum?

Lost a lot of votes with that little slip, Johnny-boy!

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 May 04 - 09:43 AM

Helen, I missed that one - I want one of those jobs!!

Ratz, I don't have a degree, silly of me to delete the email telling me I had been nominated for a Ph.D. Tho it is still in Trash, maybe I can answer it & get ahead ...

sandra (watching piggies flying by)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 May 04 - 09:57 AM

if this date is correct, two and a half months to go....

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 24 May 04 - 08:11 PM

"Personally, I'd rather have no party politics, no nominations, no candidates, no electioneering, and everybody eligible to be voted for..... "

Ozmacca, that's getting frighteningly close to what ancient Athenian democracy was like isn't it?
Do you mean to say to don't approve of the innovations?

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 25 May 04 - 12:25 AM

Innovations? I'd say we've been going backwards for centuries John. I reckon the ancient Greeks may have had the right idea at first but got carried away by wanting to select the kind of people you could pick from (by disenfranchising criminals, slaves, poor people with no property, and all those other undesirable elements of society like women). Party politics were introduced so that one bunch of conflicting self-interests could outnumber and out-vote the other bunch of conflicting self-interests and things haven't changed much.

I say that everybody of mature and responsible age (so ok, let's settle for if you're old enough to serve in the forces and can tell right from wrong) then you should be able to vote, and you should be able to be voted for - without some money driven machine to push you. How much is George Dubbya spending this time around? How much does it cost the UK or Oz to mount the election campaigns just to get more of the same old same old. Spend the money where it needs spending, on fighting poverty and hunger - supporting social welfare at home and abroad, as well as security, health and education. Big business spends enough on advertising products. Don't let's spend the public purse on advertising politicians.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 04 - 03:24 AM

8 seats to defeat: 13 seats to victory
"If we lose eight seats at the next federal election we are gone, we are out of business and the Labor Party is the government not only in the eight states and territories but also at a national level."
John Howard, September 2003

The House of Representatives notionally has 83 Coalition held seats. Labor has 63 members, the Greens 1 and the independents 3 for a total of 150 members. These are notional seats because there have been changes to electoral boundaries in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia since the 2001 Federal election.

Going into the 2004 election, the Coalition has a notional majority of 15 seats over all other parties in the House of Representatives. The Coalition would lose its absolute majority if 8 seats were lost at the next election. Labor needs to win an additional 13 seats for an absolute majority. If the result falls in-between, we may have a minority government that depends on the support of some independents and/or a minor party to govern.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 04 - 03:31 AM

...and I see Howard is standing by that Adelaide woman who took her boyfriend on a sordid romp at taxpayers' expense.
Not that he would ever admit any of his gang of thugs ever did anything wrong, but especially not now when every seat is so vital.
Hers is borderline Liberal too, I believe.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 25 May 04 - 06:16 AM

Can't really blame poor old Honest John for the slip-up over the tax cuts. Remember, the poor bugger never gets to talk to anybody who makes less than $100,000 a year.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: JennieG
Date: 25 May 04 - 07:31 AM

It doesn't matter who we vote for......we still get a politician.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 May 04 - 10:07 AM

Howard points to late election, The Australian, By James Grubel
May 25, 2004

PRIME Minister John Howard hinted today the next election could be held later rather than sooner while conceding the Iraq war had become a negative issue for the government. Mr Howard warned coalition MPs and senators the election odds were in Labor's favour as a new poll showed the ALP had a 12-point lead over the government and would easily win an election held now. The poll in the Fairfax newspapers also found 63 per cent of respondents believed the war on Iraq was not justified, up from 51 per cent last year.

The poll suggests Opposition Leader Mark Latham is winning support for his promise to bring Australia's 850 troops home by Christmas. However, Mr Howard reaffirmed the government would not change its policy on Iraq, and Australian troops would remain on the ground until their job was completed.

"There has been very negative publicity coming out of Iraq, and that Iraq has been a negative to us," a spokesman quoted Mr Howard as telling a meeting of government MPs and senators. "But he went on to say that there will not be any change in the government's position."
He later told parliament the opinion polls would not force a change of policy.

"This government has absolutely no intention of altering its position in relation to being part of the coalition in Iraq," Mr Howard said. "We did not enter the coalition (of the willing) on the basis of opinion polls last year, and we have absolutely no intention, on the basis of opinion polls, of altering our position at the present time." Earlier, he gave a strong hint to his party room that he was now looking at an election late in the year.

"We face a very big fight at the end of the year, or whenever the election is held," the spokesman quoted Mr Howard as saying. "The odds are very much against us. "We are in the fight of our political lives. All energy must be focused on that."

Mr Howard can call an election at any time, but the earliest practical date is August 7 due to the timing of future House and half Senate elections. The prime minister has ruled out a December election, making it likely the poll would be called for October so that it could be out of the way before November's US presidential elections. Mr Latham warned his MPs and senators against any complacency and urged them to maintain discipline.

"As the government becomes more desperate, and we've seen some desperation from them, it is very important that we maintain discipline and continue to focus on our issues," a party spokeswoman quoted Mr Latham as telling the meeting. "Whilst there are good poll results in various newspapers, it's always harder in the marginals.

"There is no sense that there is any room for complacency. "The important thing is for us to keep putting forward our policy positions and keep focussed and disciplined as we march towards the election campaign."

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 May 04 - 04:38 AM

Helen, the "he was providing an incentive to lower income earners to increase their income" comes from the US advisors to the Liberal Party.

US people think they will be rich next year, Aussies think they will be poor next year... :-)

Interesting to see Amanda Vandstone on Andrew Denton's 'Enough Rope' repeating the meme 'People who think they have the Right To Rule never have Doubts'... but attacking it ;-)



Freda

Fanaticism consists of insisting on doing the same things harder without knowing why... :-)



I just got mail from the AEC telling me I have been shifted from Ryan (now is Liberal seat, but for a few years a certain Lady held it for the Labor Party!) to Arch Bevis's strong Labor seat... Surprise!

Suspect the election will be soon...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: JennyO
Date: 27 May 04 - 11:16 AM

And here's another sign. Looks like he is trying to win over the votes of the Hansonites and rednecks in country seats:

PM targets gays in marriage law

Makes me sick - to quote one of the comments on that site:

narrow minded, blinkered, backward thinking little sycophant

It was interesting to note though that in a poll also on that site, In answer to the question "Rate the PM's move", 62% of people said his move was unfair, and in answer to the other question "How concerned are you about erosion of marriage institution?" (a loaded question IMO), 54% said "Not at all".

I think he might have miscalculated with this one. I sincerely hope so. I can't wait to see him gone.

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 04 - 11:53 AM

Don't forget - If you can't vote in the Autstralian election - you can still Vote for Millard Fillmore, his running mate Frances Folsom cleveland and two other candidates of y0ur choice.

15 minutes later you can do it again!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 27 May 04 - 08:50 PM

It has been apparent to me since 11th Sept. 2001 that Howard desperately wants a terrorist attack on Australian soil.
It must also be apparent to the terrorists, since they obstinately refuse to comply.

It now becomes apparent that Howard's continued Prime Ministership is our best protection from terrorist attack.

Agree? Disagree?

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 28 May 04 - 12:17 AM

I'm tempted to say he's our best protection against a whole heap of things..... better education, social equality, integrity in government, fairness, justice, tolerance, etc etc etc.... Terrorist attacks come a long way down the list since he seems to be doing a good enough job of terrorising me already. And his mate Costello, (good name for half of the comedy duo) ain't exactly doing anything for my peace of mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 May 04 - 01:02 AM

"It has been apparent to me since 11th Sept. 2001 that Howard desperately wants a terrorist attack on Australian soil."

Bali wasn;t good enough? We had that at a certain Aussie Hotel years ago - just at the time that ASIO was trying to get upgraded funding - a garbageman was killed when the truck crushed the bomb. Some of us Aussies are suspicious bastards and would strongly question a second such 'opportune terrorist incident'.


"And his mate Costello, (good name for half of the comedy duo)"
We had the 'Abbot and Costello' Law Suit a while ago... :-)



I think it's time again to crank out my song What A Friend We Have In Johnny - might be time for 'Part III'...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 May 04 - 01:11 AM

Sorry, I forgot about Aussie Politics :-)

from The Foolestroupe Songbook

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 10:20 AM

I see Mr. Bush has weighed in with a negative opinion concerning Labor's intention to bring Oz troops home from Iraq.

I wonder if he gave any thought to the possibility that Australians might take offense at him interfering in their election.

I wonder if they will take offense.

I certainly do.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:16 AM

Seems some hoarey old Aussie pollies have done just that... as they did when the US Ambassador mouthed off the same way too a while ago.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:18 AM

The Honest Aussie Politican.
© Robin Hayes 2004
(work still in progress)


Of all the promises e'er I've made,
At least I kept my core promises.
Of all the tax cuts that e'er I made,
My rich mates all were the best paid.
Clever things I said, with all my wit
The newspapers, they never printed it.
Of all the wars that we've been to,
The USA it is our friend so true.


:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 11:26 AM

The situation in Iraq is likely dominate political debate this week, with Parliament resuming tomorrow for its final session before the winter break.

If Prime Minister John Howard decides to call an August election, that session would be this Parliament's last.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 05:51 AM

Honest John has to see the poll reaction to his $1200 for families before he decides.

Seems to ne that Labor should be trumpeting "Take his bribe, then vote against him!"

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,Ooh-Aah
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 08:12 AM

All I can say is that I just can't wait to get rid of that grey, dreary little man and his oily, smirking sidekick. Could I put in a polite, unpressing word for the Greens here? If you share a justifiable disgust with the major parties you may find that the Greens have a far more democratic structure than them, and a vision of Australia a lot more attractive in every way, from an independent, compassionate foreign policy to a real concern with curing the frightful damage inflicted on the continent over the last 200 years. Don't forget you can pass the full value of your vote on to Labour, just to make sure Dodgy Johnny doesn't get in again!

Just re-read that... beleive it or not I'm not actually a signed up member at all!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 08:45 AM

me either, ooh-aah, but I've been helping on Andrew Wilkie's campaign (standing against the Little Tyrant himself!)

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,freda in Dungog
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 08:47 AM

I'm still hoping for 7th august - if thats the date, we will hear in a week's time, because they have to give 6 weeks notice. I just want it all to be over, and the govt changed.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: jack halyard
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 05:35 PM

Howard HAS got a problem. or at least one of many- He has to put off the election long enough to allow Latham enough time to shoot himself in the foot, but he has to do it before Christmas, because that's when Latham promised to bring the troops home, but if he loses, It can't be earlier than Christmas eve, because he needs to make sure that Latham cannot bring the troops home before Christmas.
With Bush's pile of lies about the reasons for the Iraq invasion becoming taller, and Howard's own nose being seen to be both longer and browner every day, he has to get the election done very soon.

Latham's responses, on the other hand, don't seem to carry the oomph I would have expected of him.

I think voting green is a very good idea! It's a serious pity we don't yet have the means to break the two-party political tangle.The old Vietnam slogan still rings true "When offered two alternatives, take the third."

and YES folks, I'd love to see our pollies living on a childcare worker's wage and with an average worker's superannuation that they cannot claim till 65 AND an absolute prohibition on going into business in areas related to their ministerial portfolios for five years.
In fact I'd like to see all members of the major political parties do some non business type work or be required to stand in the queue at Centrelink over about a year.

Sometimes the bastards just make my blood boil. I'm glad I've now got Mudcat and an intelligent community willing to listen and talk about this stuff. Your very good health,folks!

                         Jack Halyard

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 17 Jun 04 - 12:21 AM

My wife and I have just received twelve hundred dollars from the federal government because we have two children.

We don't know what it's for. We don't know why we're entitled to it.

Apparently there are some two million families just like us. Imagine how much that is costing the (alleged) common wealth.
No don't imagine, it's $3,600 million if every family only had one child.

I don't know, am I extremely intelligent or extremely dim-witted? Are there really people who will vote for a govt. that behaves like this?
This does not say to me "Here is a government with a firm grip," it says "Here is a government which has lost control completely."

Here is a government throwing up its hands and saying "We don't know what else to do. Take this money and remmember us on election day."

I will do that.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: jack halyard
Date: 17 Jun 04 - 04:49 PM

Whenever the election is, I hope Little Johnny H will be remembered as the man who origninated the idea of "Non-core promises" to excuse his failures to carry out his election obligations. How much of the next election will be non-core material- and how will we know?
There's no reasons left to trust this man's word.

                              Jack Halyard

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Jun 04 - 07:36 PM

I've already started using "Non-core promises" in songs JH... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,freda
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 01:12 AM

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1137026.htm
Broadcast: 21/06/2004

Election fever in 2004
...As the politicians in Canberra settle in for the last week of Parliament before the long winter break, many of those holding marginal seats might be wondering if this is their last hurrah.

Election speculation is rampant, with a growing view that August 7 is firming as the preferred date....

tension mounts!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 01:44 AM

..and if it is to be the 7th, it may be announced on the 4th or 5th of July. This is because the govt has to announce it at least 33 days prior to the election date.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,freda
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 12:06 AM

well, they've got something nasty on Mark Latham - maybe it will be an Aug 7th election after all!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:33 AM

They THINK they have something nasty... but they couldn't even get the 'pokie bonus' porkbarrel bribe right - they forgot to pay the defence forces... (places fingertips on thumb tip, hand on forehead, and makes waving motions back and forth...) and now there is a fuss that people are currently in jail for not paying back benefits wrongly paid by Centerlink, and we now have a new 'precedent' that they shouldn't have had to pay back those debts...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,curious
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 05:18 PM

This thread has been fascinating to read; I live in the USA, and like most of us here, I suspect, I'm not well versed in the Australian government. Just a couple quick questions; (1) Who can call an election, and (2) how often can they be called?

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:01 PM

curious...

A House of Representatives election can held more or less at any time. At the request of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General issues the writs for a general election setting down the day when polling must be conducted. Under the Commonwealth Electoral Act, this must be a Saturday and be between 33 and 58 days from the issue of the writ.

The complication is the Senate election. The Constitution fixes the terms of Senators at six years, and an election for the Senate cannot be held until one year before the expiry of Senate terms. The current half-Senate facing election expires on 30 June 2005. Therefore a Senate election cannot be held before 1 July 2004.

An old High Court ruling defines an election as covering the whole period from issue of writ to polling day. Therefore, the writ for a half Senate election cannot be issued before July 1, and with a minimum campaign period, the first possible date for an election this year is 7 August.

If the government wanted to call an election for August 7, the writ would probably be issued on Monday 5 July. The complication is that while the Governor-General issues the writ for the House of Representatives and the two Territory Senate elections, the writ for the six state half-Senate elections are issued by the state Governors. With the paperwork transfer to the states, this usually means the election is announced a day or two before the issue of the writs.

The last possible date for a Federal election is 16 April 2005. Three year terms are timed from the first sitting of a Parliament, not the date of the last election. The current Parliament first sat in February 2002, though the election
was held in November 2001. It seems highly unlikely that the government would hold off until 2005 before holding the current election.

Note that while a Senate election may be held this year, the Senators from the states will not take their seats until 1 July 2005. The four Territory Senators would take their seats at once, but the other 72 Senators would remain in place until 30 June next year, whatever the result of the Senate election.

are you as confised as I am after reading this? it comes from this site, which has a whole lot more info about the Australian electoral system:
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/questions.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,curious
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:23 AM

freda: Thanks (I think!) I'm still not sure I understand it, but at least I have an idea of it, and thanks to you, a site to go to for more info.

I appreciate it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:27 AM

basically, its up to our prime minister to work out a time which he thinks is most advantagous to his party's chance of re-election, within 3 - 4 years, I think.

this means tension builds up after about 3 years, the papers start guessing & speculating, all the pollies get nervous and everyone else gets fed up!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 10:31 PM

The payment I refered to earlier ($600 per child), as blatant and absurd as it was then, is now even more so.

Apparently some families have been paid twice (not us), and are being allowed to keep the money because the legislation by which the payment was instigated makes no provision for the retrieval of overpayments.

In other words, it would be illegal for the govt. to ask for it back, or even accept it if it was offered.

This is all farcical enough as far as a corrupt means of buying votes is concerned, but what I want to know is what they intend to do about the rest of us who did not receive the overpayment.

Now it would seem that we have been underpaid (relatively speaking), through no fault of our own, and will need, I suggest, to be bought off if they want us to vote for them.

But then, that would constitute a special payment to selected families - I don't know if that would be seen as being entirely ethical.
("Ethical? What's ether got to do with it?")

Looking forward to the next instalment...

John