stage three

We’re all set to pay a little less tax starting in July. 

While lower and middle income earners will be getting a bit more back after the government’s rejig of the Stage 3 cuts, does that make our tax system any fairer? 

Some experts say it still favours the rich and much bigger changes are needed. 

Featured: 

Kristen Sobeck, Research Fellow at the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy

Will you be better off this year when it comes to the tax you pay, your wage, grocery shopping and other bills? 

The Labor government’s changes to the Stage Three tax cuts mean more lower and middle income taxpayers will receive a bigger than expected tax return. 

For our first episode of 2024, the ABC’s business editor Ian Verrender joins Sam Hawley to explain why it’s a ‘distinct possibility’ that the cost of living will get a little bit easier this year. 

Featured: 

Ian Verrender, ABC business editor

Lindy and her husband Chris talk about what not to say to a cancer patient and what you could say instead. They also tell a "random story of the day." 

Lindy answers five common listener questions and her son Lachlan makes an appearance. Find out about her current diet, if acupuncture hurts, if she's trembling on the inside, her favorite racing announcer story and when she'll return to anchoring the morning show. 

Lindy has her husband Chris on again, but he overshares and might lose his standing invite! They start by answering a common listener question about gift ideas that are actually useful for cancer patients and their caregivers, and then detail some of the more interesting ER trips from the summer. 

Lindy takes a break from the cancer story timeline to talk about the current breaking news: an early chemo bell ringing followed by emergency gall bladder removal surgery. Lindy explains why she stopped chemotherapy two rounds early and why she had her gall bladder removed two days later. Lindy was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in May 2020 during the pandemic.

Lindy's husband Chris joins the podcast to revisit how the treatment plan went off the rails and reveal what happened during Lindy's three-week memory loss. After being diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer May 6, 2020, the original treatment plan was six weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy pills, surgery to remove the tumor and lymph nodes, and then 12 rounds of cleanup chemotherapy. Lindy just finished round ten as of this recording.

Lindy just found out her colorectal cancer tumor is stage 3 and now her medical team has come up with a treatment plan. In Life with Lindy Episode Three, she details the Xeloda chemotherapy, radiation and surgery plan and how long she made it before the plan derailed. Lindy also touches on her genetic testing and results. Be sure to catch Episodes One and Two for more on her symptoms and colonoscopy.

This song is for Linda and for anyone battling such a horrible disease. When first diagnosed, you might've thought to yourself, "I don’t have time for this." But you do. Nothing in this world is more important than your recovery. Let go of your obligations. Rely on your caregivers. Reserve your energy for yourself. In the end, you might just come to discover that your commitments weren’t so important after all. For survivors, life often takes on new clarity.

For some drama - I thought it justified - this track employs a sampled cello section in place of the traditional Roland TB-303 (or whatever bass you'd expect in a rock/electronic arrangement). Likewise, violas are sprinkled about, lending the track a nice cinematic effect. I hope you like it.