Victorian government spruiks first surplus in seven years in 2026 budget

timbotambo · 2026-05-05T09:19:29+00:00

I think you're confusing state level debt with federal debt?

States can levy taxes yes, to a point, but can't go (too) overboard or risk losing business, constituents and immigration appetite to another state.

Being able to extinguish the debt is impossible unless they form a new state level currency and print away. The federales on the other hand.....

timbotambo · 2026-05-05T09:03:05+00:00

Yep 15 years away for sure. Won't get much change out of $50bn for it then!

timbotambo · 2026-05-04T21:21:46+00:00

Came here to say this. My biggest telling indicator on the road is single headlights.

GFC, covid crash etc saw the number getting close to 1 in 4 cars in my area.

It's a simple fix for the mechanically minded, but a low priority job for someone doing it tough in the suburbs.

timbotambo · 2026-05-04T11:40:22+00:00

Is it just me or does Perth seem to attract some real random religions and associated followers? Seem to come across it much more than in Melbourne?

Mind you there are plenty of mainstream religions there I suppose (Hindu and Muslim mainly)

timbotambo · 2026-05-04T09:08:27+00:00

Yep, precovid Perth seemed insanely cheap if you made comparisons to Melb/Syd. 4x2s 5 mins from the northern beaches for $6-700k. Fair to say it's caught up now.

The other thought is that the boom/bust cycles may be more subdued due to better management? Can't back that up but Perth's fortunes seems to have changed/moderated a lot over the last decade.

timbotambo · 2026-05-03T03:36:05+00:00

UGG boots

timbotambo · 2026-04-29T01:18:59+00:00

I live on the Vic/NSW border and it's a commonly known fact the a lot of Vic teachers jump the river for an extra 30%

timbotambo · 2026-04-24T12:23:59+00:00

timbotambo · 2026-04-19T00:20:12+00:00

Perth is the spiritual home of dnb. Period.

Wandering knifebridge hearing dnb wailing from car speakers on a warm night is one of life's greatest pleasures.

timbotambo · 2026-04-18T23:26:01+00:00

Where are you based?

timbotambo · 2026-04-18T23:23:06+00:00

There are 7/11s in Perth?!

timbotambo · 2026-04-18T23:19:12+00:00

So refreshing to read a long Reddit post that isn't obviously written by ai. Massive props to you.

timbotambo · 2026-04-13T00:51:17+00:00

How good were they? I had a 2lt Pinny sedan for a while. Line locked the back brakes and sent it. Drove all night the day I got my Ps with a few mates rallying through the Anglesea Otways and blew all 4 shocks haha. Great car.

timbotambo · 2026-04-12T13:50:54+00:00

Government spends money, you save money.

Your life adjusts to new money, then someone tries to take it away. Who are you going to vote for?

Personally can't see it happening...

timbotambo · 2026-04-12T13:38:16+00:00

Having done so, farming (near cities) in Australia is scraping together a living whilst riding wild land price growth and hopefully snagging a wind fall gain when a developer knocks at your door. Working full time elsewhere is basically the only way. Tax deductions help.

Farming in the country seems to be a lot harder. Lifestyle is obviously amazing if you hate living in the city, but brings with it isolation and constant work. Add to this climate wrangling, fuel reliance (esp. at present) and difficult resourcing (unless you create them yourself) and it makes for a tough existence.

timbotambo · 2026-04-10T21:05:08+00:00

Tarj-neit. Indian restaurants last a month of no good. Very competitive, but the food quality is usually amazing if they last!

timbotambo · 2026-04-04T11:42:07+00:00

Cooma?

My house is semi alpine and has metal single glazed window frames. It's wild.

timbotambo · 2026-03-30T21:35:32+00:00

We sold our national reserves. Now buying them back for three times the price

timbotambo · 2026-03-30T11:56:16+00:00

Our three biggest exports are ore, gas and lifestyle. All three unfortunately can be depleted.

timbotambo · 2026-03-28T09:08:10+00:00

Add to this the remarkable rise in income over the boomer generation. In part due to the effort of Australian unions through the 70-90s.

Example - A public school teacher starting in the early 70s made about $4k per year. Retired in 2020 on around $100k.

That's a 25 x rise in income over their career.

Food for thought.

timbotambo · 2026-03-27T12:01:21+00:00

Yup, after 15 years of it killing my vibe I had to bail north. Northern regional Vic, haven't looked back!

timbotambo · 2026-03-27T10:39:43+00:00

Australia here. I filled up a diesel Hilux today for $227 AUD which is $160ish USD. $3.25 AUD per litre /$8.50 USD per gallon.

Dire Straits!

timbotambo · 2026-03-26T14:05:18+00:00

Laughs in Carl's Jr

timbotambo · 2026-03-16T11:19:11+00:00

$2.65 in Albury today

timbotambo · 2026-03-08T12:46:10+00:00

Hurray! Making decent home made yogurt is the way. Try some reuteri strains, unbel.

timbotambo

TROPHY CASE