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The Moon Photos from Artimus II

We had a reverse mortgage for quite a while. I think the maximum we went to was about 20k. The thing is, most of this was used to make home improvements, which more than paid for itself when we sold the house. The other thing that worked in our favour was the fact that during the 10 years we had the reverse mortgage, the value of the house increased at a greater rate. Of course, for those undisciplined, you could conceivably burn through the value of your house. I know of elderly people who are struggling but live in a huge house, which is both too much for them to maintain and just too big for 1 or 2 people. At 80 or 90 you would have to be pretty irresponsible to blow through $500 000. We sold our 44-acre property and now live in a nice unit. The profit from selling the property allowed us to retire in our mid 50s whilst we are still fit enough to travel, bushwalk, kayak and cycle. Too many people (in my opinion) hang on to an overly large house whilst spending their remaining years in poverty. Although we do not need one at this point, I would not rule out another reverse mortgage. Here is an interesting article. This little‑known government scheme can help retirees tap into $3 trillion of housing wealth

The Planets New photos downloaded from Facebook.

Trump is an economic moron with zero maths skills, zero personal skills, zero diplomacy skills, and no training or education in economics. His primary aim is to get fabulously rich, get his rich supporters even richer and become King of the World. He's so full of BS and hot air, it's a wonder they don't have to tie him to the ground to stop him from floating away. He promised to Make America Great Again. He's done nothing like it. The U.S. national debt has soared under his Presidency. Inflation is taking off again in America, thanks to all of Trumps "economic policies", and his major decision-making directional changes that change by the minute, not by the day. Fuel prices have doubled in the U.S. (despite the fact he reckons "America doesn't need ME oil", the price is governed by oil futures traders and pure speculation). So much for stability in energy prices. He says, "Drill baby, drill", like that is going to yield a "GREAT" benefit to America. He's so thick, that he doesn't even understand that oil companies only live to make HUGE PROFITS for themselves, and f*** everyone else! When was the last time America had an "oil-company-led, economic miracle"? There never has been one. America got rich on dirt cheap oil in unlimited quantities in the 1920's and 1930's, and even at that, the oil companies were making huge profits. Nowadays, there's no cheap, plentiful oil - and even fracking is high cost - and lots of fracking wells are currently on care and maintenance. Look at Trumps tariffs - on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again - like a teenage girl changing outfits. His tariffs have only caused reciprocal tariffs, so Americans can't sell half the stuff they used to. He buggered American farmers more effectively than any President in history before. The Chinese simply refused to buy American soybeans and went and got what they wanted from Brazil. Now American silos are bursting with soybeans they can't give away. So he had to bail out American farmers with American TAXPAYER-PAID subsidies, to the tune of $37 BILLION!! "As of December 2025, the Trump administration announced a $12 billion aid package to assist American farmers affected by low crop prices and trade-related tariffs. This includes $11 billion in direct payments for row crops and $1 billion for other crops to provide financial relief for operating costs. Key details regarding the aid: Purpose: The aid is designed as a "bridge" to assist with financial losses stemming from ongoing trade disputes and tariffs. Funding Source: The administration stated the funds are generated from tariff revenues. Distribution: The funds are expected to be available by early 2026 to help farmers prepare for the next season. Additionally, it was reported that farmers had previously received $23 billion in separate assistance to manage trade tensions with China" And this is the MORON you want running your economy?? Give me a break, the bloke would go broke running a lolly shop outside a girls school. He'd put all his clients off buying anything, by abusing the s**t out of them first, then suing them for not buying anything off him!! This imbecile is the greatest embarrassment the world has ever seen, running the worlds primary superpower. He selects all his people by demanding absolute loyalty to him and no-one else, with no requirement to show any credentials for the job. He demands all foreign dignitaries stay in Trump-owned hotels, thus making him one of the most corrupt Presidents ever. He's turned graft into an art form. He ignores Congress at every opportunity, claims every decision he makes is based on some fabricated outstanding emergency, and only appoints judges to the Supreme Court that will make decisions in his favour every time. He is the biggest oxygen thief on the planet. Trump is going to go down in history as the President who brought America to its knees, economically, and morally and ethically.

Well, there already is. For any homeowner that has more than two hectares. According to our accountant my mother-in-law pays CGT on the majority of her land. Her 100 acre 'farm' is in a rainshadow and never produced an income. Due to urban sprawl it now seems closer to town so it has been revalued as an asset which precluded the age pension (lost that a couple of yrs back) and now around 70k will go as CGT. You might think that's small bikkies as a % of 1.6 million (less commission), but matters - it is costing 650k to get her in the door of a nursing home. The nursing home still charges substantial monthly costs, so the rest of her wealth will be whittled away by that. Her present temporary residential care is costing about 1.5k per week until the property sells and the market is flat so that might take a while. Some people have to take a mortgage on the home to tide them over until the home sells. Aged care is a different issue but CGT comes into it. So CGT is not a simple thing. Tax reform isn't either. But successive governments have dragged their feet on that.

Would Canavan really be any worse than any of the others. Looks like he would get some industry going, eg making fertiliser. Phosphate Hill may be going down the tube. We are trying to go green but buying are fertiliser from country that is putting industry first. Jobs for our kids. It would be good if we did the same, we have all the ingredients and don't have to transport it on dirty bunker oil burning ships, so it is greener than what we are doing now.

And for all the Trump and Netanyahu fanbois... Tell me again what "the master of the deal" has done for America? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-08/donald-trump-cedes-ground-to-iran-before-negotiations-even-begin/106541368 After being fooled into this war by a war criminal, Trump has: - caused devastation to life and infrastructure in Iran - spent billions of US taxpayers money on a war they didn't want or need - depleted the US armory - caused mayhem around the middle east - raised prices around the world due to fuel and transportation costs, along with associated shrinking of tourism etc - trashed America's reputation even more - put money back in Putin's coffers enabling him to continue the Ukraine invasion. And in return for all this pain, felt worldwide, what has he accomplished? Nothing. If anything, the Iranian regime will come out of this with more than they started with. Not only will sanctions be removed, they will be making money, Mafia-style, from any ship using the Strait of Hormuz. No regime change. No democracy. No stopping of their nuclear program. And you think this pathetic creature is doing right for the US? Don't make me laugh.

They're not rants, just long posts putting forward a lot of points that can't be squeezed into a one-liner like a lot of replies on the forum are. I've seen rants on this forum in the past but none with Jerry's signature. And to clear one thing up, I'm not defending Jerry because I'm pro Israel, I'm not. I'm not pro either side and personally couldn't give two hoots if both sides battled it out to the end, as long as they don't bring their hatred here to our country.

Since when does what the rest of the World does Mean it's correct. IF People don't CARE they take the easy road. Expensive and often with Kickbacks for the Individuals involved. Like with Submarines. CHINA Is doing BEST with renewables and Australia is One of the BEST Places for them THAT Has to be taken into account...Nev

Thanks Pete, I know well the two hectare ruling and have been through it all with accountants back when I was thinking of selling a few years ago. I was referring to the idea of taxing those under two hectares as well, which would make every suburban house up for CGT. That idea was floated recently by someone at the ANU but I haven't found any reference to Labor looking at the option. All I couldd find was some older stuff about the unrealised capital gain issue that was newsworthy a while back. With the CGT ruling on blocks over two hectares, I'd be happy if they bought in an exemption if you've lived there for more than twenty years, hadn't run a business on the property and used it as your primary residence. That should be proof enough that you're not an investor and speculator. They have that twenty year exemption for pension eligibility. No tax system is ever equal. If I sold here, I would be up for between 50 to 300 thousand in tax depending on some details. A mate just recently sold his farm for six million and didn't pay a cent of CGT because he owned it before the CGT introduction date.

The Biggest Coal exporting Port is Newcastle and we are one of the Biggest LNG exporters also We were locked into these contracts. You Downplay the risks of Nuclear waste and storage Nuclear Reactors are Prime Military targets and need lots of Cooling water and the Power generated is Highly expensive, and concentrated so much so that Dutton Proposed the Cost and risks be shouldered by the taxpayer as private Enterprise would not engage in such a risky and poorly thought out Proposal. Dutton lost the election AND His own seat. Nev

95% yes, Australia's contribution to it is that small it is not worth sending the country broke going hell for leather at reducing our part. Lets do it sustainably. Our rules for industry enviromental compliance is also a lot more stringent then other country's we trade with as well. The best thing Australia can do for climate change is export uranium!

All the countrys we are trading against use coal. Personally I haven't got a problem with it as long as we head to not using it in an orderly fashion. (like China and India- India has jut started a fast reactor in the last couple of days)One of the things that is sending our remaining industry overseas is the price and perceived unreliability of our weather dependent intermittent electricity generation.

"Tradie" CANAVAN is for Coal. Never forget it The rest is Just an act where he Plays to Naive People. Albanese is and has been for quite a while attempting to Be More self sufficient and Value add Overseas Refining is Cheaper and of a high standard. IF we do it Ourselves it will inevitably cost More so THAT may be the future OR electric. It would be Hard to Predict the Vagaries and excesses of Trump and the Incredible damage that has resulted to TRUST and ORDER. and be able to Avoid being affected. Storage has risks and costs. AUSTRALIA hasn't caused what is Happening in the ME, and is NOT Pro war,. nev

I am very aware of that, There's nothing better than views of Natural Phenomena Including the Universe itself What a Colossal amount is available to us at the Moment but We Get Karl and Jackie O and Views not News. TV could have educated Millions instead of Creating Division and HATE. . Nev

I didn't see Planet "B" there, There's also an Asteroid Belt. 7% of Americans "think" the earth is FLAT. More cratering happens when there is No atmosphere. Just Imagine the State of your Mind IF you didn't believe in Science? Nev

I think my post went straight through to the catcher. My bedroom window is 3m wide and faces east. I don't need a TV.

Marty, that's fine whilst you live in the sweet spot of having good income and totally owning your property. Do you really think that reverse mortgage is great? What if you outlive that mortgage? Do you lose your home? It sounds like a way of bleeding the ownership away. Then what? Are you expecting to die before you need to sell up to pay for your aged care expenses? I will more likely drop off my perch before needing to liquidate my assets to pay for aged care. My mother-in-law thought that too.

Silent p, as in swimming.

Yes, I'll give you that, but E is the most common letter, and often used to change the pronunciation of the the word, as in ton/tone. But there are other letters which appear to have no purpose and could be omitted without changing the word. eg. P in Psychology.

Canavan is a nut job. Anyway isn't this a bit off topic? There's another thread about Australian politics.

Litespeed, just a suggestion, maybe tone down on the insults to posters you don't agree with and try posting on your position without playing the man. It's a bit disrespectful, and I've really noticed this forum getting quite toxic lately. Forumites can be polite and still disagree.

Well, I hope to stay here full term Marty. Getting rated off the place would be the only thing stopping me, but at the moment it's affordable. And it suits me not living like a king. I've got a lifestyle here kings could only dream about.

Equity is equity. If you're sitting on a property worth $3m then you're not a "pensioner with the arse out of your pants", you could get a reverse mortgage and live like a king for the rest of your life. If you choose not to, that's fine, but you do have that option. On the other hand you have people who, often through no fault of their own, didn't end up owning a house. They don't have that option. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fantastic that you still live on the property you bought 38 years ago, I hope to do the same. (On my property, not yours 😄)

Specifically to get a bite from you Nev.

A prodigee of Abbott? Be careful what you ask for.

Indeed.. It looks like the "other alliance" is a bit stronger than ours: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-supplies-iran-with-cyber-support-spy-imagery-hone-attacks-ukraine-says-2026-04-07/ That't thank thanks Chump gets from Putin.. Of course, Chump won't see it that way.

Murdoch Equals Fear and Hate in a fact free Package, There should be a Law against Printing falsehoods for Personal Benefit , Bring on a Functioning Factchecker and we get Better Democracy. Nev

The Courier Mail has a Monopoly in Queensland. Such a situation should not be Permitted, anywhere. Nev

hahahah Nev. I think I know when a commie is trying to bend me over the kitchen counter

I think there are a lot of us in the same boat. I did have partial pension until recently. My once affordable rural bushland block is now a financial burden. So after some expense and 3 years dealing with state titles office, getting a full survey, we got a archaic property boundary reinstated. We just sold that bit for what our whole block initially cost. Hurrah - money to sustain us. But then our remaining land theoretical value went up. And combined with our new bank balance, we will never get a pension. So when the cash runs out, we will sell up. By then the sale won't buy a little townhouse in suburbia. What then? The system is already set up to remove any accumulated wealth of the average wage earner. The elite live in a different financial world. If you think there is a safety net just take a look at the average pensioner. The social obligation to the aged has been eroded.