"And that does concern me, because we're not getting enough back for our taxes that we're paying. I think we really have to look at the whole sort of area"
About this Quote
There’s a particular kind of Australian plain-speak at work here: the tone of the bloke at the barbecue who’s not trying to write policy, just trying to voice a frustration you’re supposed to recognize instantly. Rex Hunt frames the complaint in the most everyday currency possible - taxes in, services out - and that’s the point. As an entertainer, his authority isn’t technical; it’s cultural. He’s positioning himself as a proxy for “ordinary” taxpayers, not as someone with a spreadsheet.
The line “that does concern me” is doing soft politics: it signals seriousness without sounding like a rant. Then comes the transactional gut-punch: “we’re not getting enough back.” It’s an argument that doesn’t need a specific grievance to land, because it borrows the logic of consumer disappointment. Government becomes a subscription service that’s stopped delivering. That metaphor is powerful, and a little dangerous, because it turns civic life into a customer service dispute: if you’re not satisfied, someone must be ripping you off.
The vaguest phrase is also the tell: “the whole sort of area.” It’s a classic media soundbite move, widening the target while avoiding a claim you can fact-check. The subtext is less “here’s what’s broken” than “you already feel it’s broken.” In a culture where mateship and fairness are prized, “not getting enough back” isn’t just about budgets; it’s about respect - the sense that the system is taking you for granted.
The line “that does concern me” is doing soft politics: it signals seriousness without sounding like a rant. Then comes the transactional gut-punch: “we’re not getting enough back.” It’s an argument that doesn’t need a specific grievance to land, because it borrows the logic of consumer disappointment. Government becomes a subscription service that’s stopped delivering. That metaphor is powerful, and a little dangerous, because it turns civic life into a customer service dispute: if you’re not satisfied, someone must be ripping you off.
The vaguest phrase is also the tell: “the whole sort of area.” It’s a classic media soundbite move, widening the target while avoiding a claim you can fact-check. The subtext is less “here’s what’s broken” than “you already feel it’s broken.” In a culture where mateship and fairness are prized, “not getting enough back” isn’t just about budgets; it’s about respect - the sense that the system is taking you for granted.
Quote Details
| Topic | Money |
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