There will be more than one dame in our lives. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied
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JUST over seven months into Tony Abbott's reign as Prime Minister, we are finally starting to see how the federal government is going to change our lives.
Since the Coalition was elected last September we've heard about some of its plans.
But now, as next month's Budget nears, we are beginning to see what's really on the table. Here are seven things the Government may do in the coming months that could affect your life.
WORK 'TIL YOU'RE 70
Joe Hockey, in an ABC TV interview at the weekend, suggested workers may have to keep slogging away until they turn 70.
"It may be the case that my generation has to work for an extra three years," Mr Hockey said, although he did not say it was Government policy.
Mr Hockey's suggestion has sparked much debate, particularly because few Australians intend to retire so late (a report released this month found most Aussie workers want to retire at 57).
And would it apply to everyone? As columnist David Penberthy put it, the physical toll of some jobs would make it difficult for some to work that long.
MORE: WOULD YOU MIND WORKING UNTIL 70?
MORE: LABOR JUMPS ON PENSION CHANGE RUMOURS
"I couldn't care less if it were 70, even 72. But I say this because I work in a soft-handed profession where my idea of workplace risk involves burning my lips on a coffee or perhaps incurring a nasty paper cut while grappling with the photocopier," Penberthy wrote.
"If I were employed as a nurse lugging heavy and immobile patients around, as a shovel-wielding road worker, or in the still-unmechanised parts of the manufacturing or mining sector, I reckon I would have a completely different response to these blithe suggestions from the equally soft-handed Joe Hockey about the prospect of casually adding another five years to my working life."
The first Rudd Government raised the retirement age (the age when people are eligible to receive a pension) from 65 to 67. It will be enforced in 2023.
YOU COULD BE A KNIGHT OR DAME
We hope you've practised your curtsy.
In a nod to old-school imperialism, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reintroduced knights and dames to the Order of Australia honours list, nearly 30 years after the titles were abolished by the Hawke government.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended his call to restore knights and dames to Australia's honours system.
First to join the round table is ex-governor-general Quentin Bryce, followed by her successor Peter Cosgrove. Up to four will be awarded to "pre eminent" Australians every year by the Queen on the recommendation of the prime minister.
In one of the Federal Government's most condemned decisions since coming into power, Mr Abbott, once the head of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, said the current honours list did not do enough to acknowledge outstanding Australians and their achievements.
What's next? Lords and ladies?
BYE BYE FREE GP VISITS?
No formal decision has been made but some people may have to make a small payment of about $6 when they visit a GP.
Former Abbott adviser Terry Barnes floated the idea in a submission to the government's pre-budget razor gang, the Commission of Audit.
Health Minister Peter Dutton has made some encouraging noises about it in media interviews.
"I want to make sure that, for argument's sake, we have a discussion about you or me on reasonable incomes, whether we should expect to pay nothing when we go to see the doctor, when we go to have a blood test," Mr Dutton told ABC TV.
"Should we expect to pay nothing as a co-contribution and other taxpayers to pick up that bill?''
According to a News Corp report, the Government is also considering charging people who visit emergency departments with minor complaints such as stubbed toes or common colds.
The Minister for Health and Sport Peter Dutton is keen to see those with "reasonable incomes" pay to see the doctor. Source: News Limited
IT COULD BE EASIER TO BE A BIGOT
Holding racists to account will be tougher for ordinary citizens under proposed laws to the Racial Discrimination Act.
In a draft proposal introduced last month, Mr Abbott and Attorney-General George Brandis seek to remove a number of sections to the Racial Discrimination Act, most notably section 18C, which makes it unlawful for someone to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" a person based on the colour of their skin or their cultural background.
MORE: THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT, EXPLAINED
MORE: BRANDIS, "PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE BIGOTS"
"What it is seeking to do is to deprive the ordinary person of an opportunity to hold to account the person who uttered the language in a way that's accessible, that doesn't place a burden on the courts and captures what it means to be racially vilified," Amnesty International Australia's legal spokeswoman Katie Wood said.
Today a Nielsen poll revealed 88 per cent of Australians did not agree with the changes, including Ms Wood, arguing the Act is "not what Australia is about". Mr Brandis has a tough job getting the changes approved by the Senate.
The Abbott govt plans to remove 'insult,' 'offend' and 'humiliate' from the Racial Discrimination Act.
DISABILITY PENSION WON'T BE AN EASY GET
The Government is taking a long, hard look at the Disability Support Pension (DSP) because of fears the payment is being rorted.
The DSP is an enormously popular program for people with a condition that prevents them from working.
It provides a maximum of $766 a fortnight* to people who have a physical or intellectual disability, a psychiatric condition or are blind.
But with more than 800,000 recipients — up 20 per cent in the past decade, according to the Government — the program is proving rather expensive.
Rob Bliss, who lost his leg after a car crashed into him, has been granted a disability pension after centerlink initially refused him. Source: News Corp Australia
Government frontbenchers are concerned many Australians have switched from receiving dole payments to the DSP because it provides a much heftier payment.
"It's not something which I expect we will be addressing immediately in the Budget," Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews told the ABC last month.
But he said the "perverse incentive for people to get onto the disability pension rather than the Newstart allowance (dole payments) because it pays more" needs to be examined.
* To singles over 21, or under 21 with children. Some recipients also receive additional payments in the form of the Pension Supplement and the Youth Disability Supplement
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
In a blessing for new families, the Coalition hope to expand upon the paid parental leave scheme in a bid to spark a baby boom.
The government say the new policy is a big win for women on average salaries who, under the new laws, will be allowed 26 weeks of paid leave in contrast to the current 18 weeks.
The government has described the proposed changes as "fair dinkum".
"We understand that for new families, there is no 'leave' from mortgages, power and fuel bills," according to the Liberals' website.
"We are proud of this policy: it helps women, it helps families and it will strengthen the economy. Time off for new parents could be a thing of the past as Australia's mounting debt creeps.'
Tony Abbott has unveiled the Liberal Party's paid parental leave scheme. Courtesy SKY News
DISABILITY INSURANCE DELAYED?
There are fears the roll out of National Disability Insurance Scheme could be delayed.
The NDIS could one day support half a million people. According to the current details of the scheme, it will provide funding for equipment (such as wheelchairs and walkers) as well as assistance at home and other benefits by around the end of the decade.
MORE: CONCERN OVER NDIS AFTER JOE HOCKEY WARNS OF BLOWOUTS
MORE: MY WHEELCHAIR COSTS $22,000
But there are concerns it could take longer to become a reality. Recent trial programs came in as much as 30 per cent over budget. Assistant Social Services Minister Mitch Fifield said the program was still on its way.
"We're not looking for ways to delay the NDIS," Mr Fifield told Sky News. "What we're doing is looking for ways to ensure that we can deliver it, and deliver it well."
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