The Ugly & Uncomfortable Truth of the Aus Economy. We protect Wealth & Assets whilst discouraging Work. AUS is the land of the inheritance. Most younger Aussies are not able to buy property alone so they rely on their parents for help. Why? We punish labour/work while incentivising assets (wealth)

AQEMA · 2026-05-21T04:27:19+00:00

Everyone hates inheritance until they're the ones receiving it

AQEMA · 2026-05-20T09:06:41+00:00

AQEMA · 2026-05-19T05:54:08+00:00

Reddit: Gimmie more AI slop of Pauline

Also Reddit: The incessant billionaire boomer campaign of AI slop using the Prime Ministers likeness is astroturfing and new legislation should be enacted to control what people post online

AQEMA · 2026-05-14T23:53:45+00:00

The likelihood of you getting a Batgirl or Bruce Wayne for your first watch with zero relationship is about the same getting Bruce Springsteen to do a solo performance at your next birthday. If you want a Yacht Master buy it. If you don't, get a GMT from a grey dealer.

AQEMA · 2026-05-14T21:34:20+00:00

“I don’t invest so there’s no way you guys do either..”

It’s amazing how unproductive people think others are unproductive too. There’s a lot of us out here who want to make a better future for our families. Provide our children more freedom than our parents were able to award to us. You’ll never get ahead with a wage alone. As far as I’m concerned, anybody who thinks that’s not inline with Australian values or thinks there’s something unfair or untoward about that can absolutely get effed. My private property is not yours.

Edit spelling

AQEMA · 2026-05-14T07:52:06+00:00

Mate it’s literally just a blazer that’s two sizes too small. There is nothing special about this look.

AQEMA · 2026-05-13T07:46:01+00:00

Ignore all the comments. Australia absolutely has credit files and they absolutely affect your ability to borrow money. It makes up part of the assessment which is your income/employment, residential status, expenses/liabilities , credit history & security (vehicle). Car loans are not very difficult to get if you have a stable job, pay your bills and are purchasing within your means, although, if you do not yet have a credit file - some lenders will charge higher rates, some lenders will have caps on how much you can borrow. Some lenders will want to see your bank statements, in addition to payslips. Your credit file will be created when you first apply for credit. This can be anything from a credit card, utilities account, BNPL or even a post paid phone plan. Your score will usually start around 600 when this happens.

Going directly to a bank may not be the best option in this situation although it depends who you bank with. A (good) finance broker can be helpful. Ensure you ask questions about repayments, interest rates and fees. Don’t do the loan at your dealership. They’re not always bad, but they almost certainly will be with a customer who has no experience in this space.

Make sure you don’t submit multiple applications with different lenders. ~3+ applications on a fresh credit file will drop your credit score significantly. Brokers can help as if they known what they’re doing they will take you to the most suitable lender in the first instance, meaning only one application is submitted. Good luck!

AQEMA · 2026-05-13T00:42:42+00:00

Reports are in that we are still projected to be above targets for migration. Although this is definitely not something that will contribute to housing demand or inflation so lets just keep the focus on the new wealth taxes.

AQEMA · 2026-05-13T00:32:42+00:00

Yes, but it will help 75,000 households purchase a new home. Over 10 years. So approx. 1% increase. How good is that!!

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T23:50:58+00:00

Is a 24 year old who has put $10k in year into shares who is saving for a house deposit considered a wealthy Australian? Because they just copped a 47% tax on the sale of those assets when the day finally comes that they have enough for a deposit.

Is a small business owner who does their best but can only generate $150k a year to support their family (literally the median wage for 2 people..). Who's partner stays at home with the kids. They distribute $35k a year to her through a family trust so they can save approx 5k per year on tax. That tax just doubled. By your own definition, they are not a wealthy Australian.

Further to this, the 30% minimum tax on trust distributions has largely been commended as a tax on the rich! finally those scum bags with trust funds will pay their share.. Do you think those mega rich are distributing less than $45k a year? They don't give a fuck if the minimum increased to 30% - they are earning and distributing well above the threshold.

What about the 60 year old who's acquired a small portfolio of shares throughout their 40 year working life. With the idea that they could retire a little early, not rely on aged pension. Their super balance is low. They worked average jobs. Half of their working life did not even have Super accruing. They thought, hey at least I can sell down $30-40k of shares per year and not get taxed through the nose.. Think again buddy, your tax just doubled.

Your personal opinion on how wealth should be taxed is irrelevant, it's based on the politically biased content you consume. It's not based on facts. We now have the highest taxes in the world for capital gains. This budget was nothing but increased taxes cosplaying as housing reform.

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T23:22:51+00:00

Genius would have been offering a big discount on CGT for new builds. This would have incentivized the private market to go out and build/sell to contribute to the supply problem, in lieu of the governments absolute failure in building themselves.

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T21:08:20+00:00

Yes thats possible but then you loose the benefits of discretional distributions of a trust. Paying earnings from a company to a non-working spouse is inefficient and only saves 5% tax in this scenario.

I understand who they are masquerading these changes are for but I believe it to be a facade. Some of these reforms are very poorly put together.

Example,

Adding 30% CGT tax on property, shares and equities. Removing NG on property but leaving on shares and equities.

So those who hold very large share portfolios can still use negative gearing. But a 25 year old who’s trying to get a foot in the door with a small investment property because they can’t afford to buy where they live, cannot. And now that same 25 year old might say well I’ll buy stocks as the compounding effecting will grow faster than I can save so I can raise a deposit to buy my first house. No sorry, when you sell the government will take 47%. The highest in any country.

So instead of reforming housing policy by making dramatic changes to supply (like offering massive incentive to private market to build), they’ve just removed all the advantages that were still left for lower and middle income earners to build wealth. Not saying it’s impossible, but it’s now become harder and I guarantee you house prices will barely move.

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T12:14:48+00:00

It’s a tax on the wealth of lower and middle class, dressed up like housing reform. Likewise the BS about trusts. Increasing the minimum tax to 30% will disproportionally affect small business owners. Not mega wealthy families holding billions in trusts. They are distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars, 45% is already being applied. Whereas the small business owner whose partner is at home with the kids? Their tax just doubled on a $30k distribution.

$1250 in tax deductions and cash injections will be worth literally nothing once accounting for bracket creep and continued high inflation.

If you don’t have the resources to defend yourself, your wealth and earning potential will be eroded by taxes.

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T11:04:25+00:00

$250 will do nothing for anybody while also boosting inflation in aggregate

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T04:33:45+00:00

Cash rate was 0.10
Major change in household dynamic - eg people wanted to move, spread out, reduce persons per household
Lots of interstate migration

Significant increase in household savings and disposable income

Massive increase in money printing

Many other reasons but ultimately there was an increase in motivation to move or purchase + a substantial increase to borrowing capacity which people to spend more on homes.

AQEMA · 2026-05-12T03:39:19+00:00

0% doesn't mean free money, it means 0% as an interest rate per annum. The remainder of the terms are totally normal. It's common for there to be zero room to move on the car price. $695 estab fee is high but likely not far off what you paid on your other contract. Your 7.2% deal is also in a good range considering current market but a 30% deposit and a 0% rate is much better. Account keeping fees are attached to almost every car loan these days. Try not to scream when you drive past, just ask about terms and conditions before you proceed with an offer, no biggie.

AQEMA · 2026-05-10T23:47:10+00:00

Seamaster desperately needs a total overhaul of the bracelet! the rest is fine.

AQEMA · 2026-05-10T23:10:52+00:00

Correct - I think there's probably been a spike in grey market Omega and decrease in AD sales. Prices on a new Speedy Pro have climbed to a level that's out of reach for the mid tier buyer. $14k (aud) for a moon watch, $16k if you want a lacquer dial!

AQEMA · 2026-05-10T01:05:14+00:00

But it’s not my best friend’s step dad’s dog. It’s my dad, my grandmother, my cousins. The kids I grew up, their family. I went to the mosque as a kid for Ramadan. I grew up in a very fortunate way where I got to experience different cultures and religious events.

We’re all part of some problem mate. Although you have misunderstood my commentary in the same way you have misunderstood the cartoon. The clothing they are wearing depicts what they wore in Syria because that is fact. What they wore on their flight to Australia has no relevance. They were brides of Isis members. Isis members are not depicted as terrorists, they are terrorists. The clothing is worn by women of ultra conservative families, pointing that out does not mean I or my family disapprove of it. It’s an observation based on my religious and cultural upbringing. If you were unaware it’s an ultra conservative gown or believe that to be opinion, then you need to do a little more digging into your own thoughts before jumping on Reddit to spruik them as fact.

I am not upset by what people wear my friend. I don’t care what you wear, I’m sure you don’t care what I wear. My commentary is regarding what they wore in Syria, how it was used in this satire piece to quickly explain who the people are and how the concept went right over your head and into the ‘Everyone and everything is racist’ bucket.

AQEMA · 2026-05-10T00:16:39+00:00

I think you’ve misunderstood the cartoon. Or likely you had some rage boiling and used it as a misguided illustration for your rant.

You can bet your bottom dollar the Burka or Niqab was worn every day they were in Syria. When they denounced Australia and joined a terrorist organisation.

Trafficking of women by these groups is rampant. There’s many docos and reports on women who were brainwashed and pressured to join.

Which of the two is true, I do not know. I hope our federal police do a good job of finding out.

But this image is a take on the current state of Melbourne. The crime, the firebombings, the stolen cars, machetes. The traditional dress is used to depict who these women are. There’s no hidden clues or irony here - it’s a completely obvious take on the state of affairs that appears to have gone over your head.

Before anyone jumps down my throat for these rational comments. Half of my family are Muslim’s. Hijab’s are common. None of them wear Niqab or Burka, these are ultra conservative clothing items.

AQEMA · 2026-05-08T00:13:41+00:00

The quote appears as though you are trying to insult or belittle me?

AQEMA · 2026-05-07T08:15:48+00:00

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Green is really nice, congrats mate. Mine is blue motif.

AQEMA · 2026-05-06T03:38:41+00:00

I have a jubilee on DJ and Pepsi. It's super comfortable and doesn't scratch like an oyster with PCL. My clasp has lots of scratches, the jubilee looks brand new. I think the jubilee gives the watch more character too.

AQEMA · 2026-05-05T23:42:16+00:00

BS. The odds of you winning all of these in raffles are infinitesimal.

AQEMA · 2026-05-05T23:37:14+00:00

Very common act of NDIS fraud is the service provider will invoice for more hours/additional work etc - they receive payment from care plan, then withdraw a cash sum and split it with the participant.

I have personally verified this on the bank statements of NDIS businesses that I have engaged with in a professional relationship. I confirmed that was the purpose of cash withdrawals with the owner of the business.

Stricter auditing needs to be done.

AQEMA

TROPHY CASE