Two budgets = too much excitement

TWO budgets in one week. Too much excitement for a man of my advanced years, particularly when senior citizens take a hit in both. Baby boomers fared relatively lightly in the Australian federal budget compared with the Western Australian state budget two days later. Australia’s largest state — which only a couple of years ago…

Give it a go, says Treasurer

 AUSTRALIAN Treasurer Joe Hockey has called for Australians to “give it a go”. I thought at first that it was a follow-up call to former Treasurer Peter Costello who 10 years ago said: “One for Dad, one for Mum and one for the country.” Costello was referring to babies and indeed Australia duly responded with a…

Earthquake Aid: Where Do My Few Dollars Go?

Like many people around the world I donated money the other day to one of the aid agencies bringing relief to the earthquake survivors in Nepal. I just hope my money is effective. You do wonder. The whole business of charity donation is coloured with doubt. How much is actually getting through to where it…

Aging rockers rush to see aging rockers

My friend JR is grinning like a Cheshire cat today. He’s just snapped up tickets for the AC/DC tour when it hits Perth in November. He refused to say how much but I did notice that tickets ranged up to A$627. It’s another example of the Baby Boomers supporting the retirement plans of our aging…