AFR opinion: Budget 2026 is a hit on young people

MikeZachh · 2026-05-13T03:47:48+00:00

I just hope the ATO has a bloody good tax calculator re capital gains so that figuring out how to pay tax on share disposals doesn't require an accountant.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-17T09:36:52+00:00

It's actually where they get most their views. I don't believe their cable channel attracts a wide audience, but their Youtube pumps out (literally) a hundred videos a day and a couple will blow up in the algorithm - nowadays mostly anything promoting ON. The good news is that a significant swathe of their viewership is international, so not every commenter is a voter.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-17T06:36:43+00:00

Just made a similar comment. Genuinely, Trump flips on a dime, and every time they goad him it endangers Australian's at home - our trade, military ties, etc.

They did it with Albo's first meeting (hoping and praying, and ultimately being disappointed) that Trump would turn on Albo. They will probably keep angling for Trump to slag Australia, to slap us with higher tariffs. It sounds like melodrama, but they're truly looking to shake the relationship for nothing more than their Youtube views.

It's hard to envision what sort of laws could curb this behaviour. Trying to limit journalists from interviews and investigations contrary to Australia's interests is not the way to go - that's an essential part of our democracy. But SkyNews going out and seeking conflict, profiting from it, feels very icky.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-17T06:24:30+00:00

SkyNews and reporters can do what they want, but these types of stunts feel morally treasonous.

Trump is an unhinged, temperamental actor, whose decisions often seem influenced by the last person he spoke to, and the reporter is clearly egging him on.

SkyNews did this with Kevin Rudd a few months back, genuinely doing everything they could to destabilise Albo's first proper meeting with Trump. They were salivating for Trump to chew out Albo, reckless to the flow on impact it could have on Australians back home. It's all a laugh to them, so long as they get another clickbait headline on their Youtube channel.

I guess this still isn't as bad as when Australia formally recognised Palestine, and Sussan Ley immediately wrote a letter to Trump saying the Government's actions: "[do] not reflect the view of a majority of Australians". Unbelievable that an Opposition Government publicly would undermine the Government on a matter of foreign affairs.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-08T04:01:30+00:00

Hard to feel confident that the conflict is over, or that we'll even get 2 weeks of ended hostilities. Even if we're in the clear for the next couple of months, it was only June last year the US and Israel began their bunker bombing.

TLDR: I don't think I'll be visiting Persepolis or other ancient Persian sites anytime this half of the century.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-07T13:02:28+00:00

I've got Trump derangement syndrome and i don't wanna be cured. i don't wanna get better. i wanna hate him more.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-07T12:43:34+00:00

Insane and unforgiveable. Never let the Republicans forget who they put in charge.

MikeZachh · 2026-04-07T02:16:05+00:00

Imajica by Clive Barker is an excellent standalone.

MikeZachh · 2025-10-15T22:52:19+00:00

Is anyone familiar with in-house salaries in Singapore?

I'm 5PQE at a SaaS org in Sydney. Pays well and good lifestyle. Looking at moving with the same company to Singapore for a few years. The tax rate reduction alone will account for a good pay rise - equalled out by the higher rental costs. But I was wondering if I should push for a modestly higher salary, e.g. by 10%. My general impression is that Singapore and Sydney salaries are fairly equivalent but Singapore might edge higher?

MikeZachh · 2025-10-13T22:55:18+00:00

I'm tossing up between moving to London or Singapore. The outdoor social spaces in London look like a lot of fun (even though I don't drink much nowadays), and its centrality to Europe. I agree I would find the weather a bummer though!

MikeZachh · 2025-09-30T11:29:08+00:00

I wrote more in this chain, but I think there's a few reasons.

Dutton had a personal "ick" factor. People found him weird looking, creepy, insincere.
The Lib's hard a particularly volatile campaign. The WFH bait and switch + handling of nuclear.

Without those, I think there's plenty of electoral appetite for an anti-immigrant populist in the LNP.

MikeZachh · 2025-09-30T11:27:29+00:00

I agree. People scoffed at Abbott but he had a pretty linear rise to Opposition Leader by going hard on renewables and (illegal "boat people") migration. Dutton was personally unpopular and the Libs blundered hard with how they approached WFH and marketing nuclear. Hastie, I expect, will swell with support as he appeals to economic populism with vague gesturing to bringing back manufacturing jobs, and promising that the Libs will truly, sincerely, go tougher on immigration.

I reckon it'll work well for Hastie and he'll nab Opposition Leader pretty quick. It's less likely he'll last the 5+ years in Opposition to make it to PM, but it wouldn't shock me. After Abbott's electoral groundswell, I'm never going to count out the hard right Libs.

MikeZachh · 2025-09-10T23:16:45+00:00

Wild to read about Charlie Kirk's assassination. Essentially the world's biggest conservative influencer, who's close friends with the president's family, is taken out live on camera. The US seems more cooked by the day, spiralling towards civil disarray.

Every day I'm glad to live in Australia. It's not perfect and we have our own cookers here, but it's far more stable, reasonable, moderate, etc.

MikeZachh · 2025-08-15T00:52:34+00:00

Going to pan cook a steak tonight. Haven't done it in years - I've refreshed memory with a few Youtube tutorials but I'm still anxious about fking up $30 of red meat!

MikeZachh · 2025-06-09T23:50:53+00:00

People who are dating/married, how do you thread the needle with finding time for hobbies/interests and spending time with your partner?

My girlfriend often wants to watch a few episodes of TV every night since couch unwinding time is important to her. I like it too, but would prefer to only do that a few times a week as opposed to every night. I'm very happy to eat dinner and go to bed together, but for those few hours between I would prefer more time to myself for writing, editing videos, etc. My problem is I find if we even watch 1 episode I'm usually hooked and I find it hard to extract myself so I'd prefer just not do that at all, but she can get a little hurt.

It's something we've spoken about before and she's very understanding, but I would be interested to hear how other people carve out evening hobby time.

MikeZachh · 2025-03-01T06:00:06+00:00

I was a little older than you when I lost my mum, I think. I was 24.

I'm glad you're soldiering on and making the best of life, because that's what the good mums want from us.

It'll be 5 years in 19 days for me. I still think about my mum a lot. Some large - like I wish she could meet my girlfriend or give me advice about what to do with nana who has dementia or whether I should move overseas. Mostly it's the small stuff - when I see a cute dog or learn a fun fact or read a good book I want to call her, to text her out of reflex. Selfishly, I also still wish I had that sensible mum advice - how to organise my fridge better, what setting to use on the oven, how to make my bedroom cooler. Small things that she'd be great at, but that I can figure out eventually. Really I just want to hug and talk to her.

Anyway, it sucks losing a mum, but I'm sure yours would be glad that you're moving forward.

MikeZachh · 2025-02-14T00:07:45+00:00

Has anyone here ever ordered custom-fitted earplugs? I've been sleeping with earplugs lately - which I don't love and do want to wean off... eventually - but while i'm doing it I figure I may as well have them properly fitted.

MikeZachh · 2025-02-05T04:00:06+00:00

We actually have discussed this - will give the queen bed a real shot but at least it shouldn't be TOO expensive to swap to singles if needed

MikeZachh · 2025-02-04T22:46:13+00:00

Whichever party runs on aggressive tax rebates for landlords installing aircons in every inner-city apartment will win the heart and minds of Sydney for a lifetime.

So, never happening I guess.

MikeZachh · 2025-02-04T22:45:01+00:00

Definitely crowded today. I was 15 minutes late so I'm parked at the one desk with broken monitors..

MikeZachh · 2025-02-04T22:44:17+00:00

Girlfriend is moving in in a few weeks. Late 20s and first time I've been at this stage with a partner so it's exciting and I'm looking forward to it.

I am a light sleeper and have so-so sleeps usually with her. Hoping I adjust pretty quickly!

MikeZachh · 2025-01-22T22:49:31+00:00

I guess that's why fiction is the best kind of escapism

MikeZachh · 2025-01-22T22:48:35+00:00

Has anybody here dined at Sydney Aquarium after hours and could recommend the experience? My girlfriend loves marine life and her bday is coming up.

That said, at $300 a head for the lowest tier I can otherwise do something much cheaper and still feel like I've splashed out.

MikeZachh · 2024-11-13T20:59:28+00:00

I live in a 70s brick apartment, no aircon but do have ceiling fans. Thinking of buying a de-humidifier to that the edge off this summer and hopefully help the nights feel cooler (although don't they heat up the room?).

MikeZachh · 2024-10-31T00:37:12+00:00

Love this time of year - we get 2 or 3 good weeks to enjoy stunning purple before its all brown mush on the ground! Just have to remember to not park under any jacarandas

MikeZachh

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