I wish to call on the Federal Government to :
" FREEZE / SUSPEND all FOREIGN AID IMMEDIATELY "
as this national disaster will cost us dearly for a long time to come ! We were ahead of the world during the GFC (global financial crisis), but this unexpected disaster is a wake~up~call to all POLITICIANS to concentrate on the job~at~hand ....................is there anywhere we the TAXPAYERS and RATEPAYERS can unite to put this demand to the government !? Help in this regard is much appreciated !
mail to : brisbaneseaside(at)gmail.com

Hey, that's a great idea, lukkihans.

>>I wish to call on the Federal Government to : " FREEZE / SUSPEND all FOREIGN AID IMMEDIATELY "<<

You could let these folks go hang, for a start.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gZA3ZefompYO2LY8TvwvNQnMwpKA

And these.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LSGZ-89GD7W?OpenDocument

You'd be of the view that they probably deserved it, anyway, right?

I hope you have a wonderful, safe and carefree life, lukkihans, you sound such a lovely, warm and caring person.

This is such an important article, once again those who are doing it tough are sidelined by the drama of the cities.

I don't know how that can be changed, but I hope somebody who does know reads your piece.

There are trucks packing goods interstate bound for Toowoomba, Gympie and other country towns tonight Peter. Telethons and donations within interstate cities are commencing in the morning.

As occurred immediately after the Victorian bushfires, interstate truck drivers are sacrificing their livelihoods to deliver goods from our major cities and country towns interstate.

It is being co-ordinated this evening and tomorrow.

My heart and prayers along with many interstate Aussies has been with all of the people in and around Toowoomba, Gympie, Grantham and all townspeople who urgently require foodstuffs and basic necessities in worse situations.

Quite a few government and aid workers will be undoubtedly reading your plea and act upon your request immediately.

Individual businesses interstate have kicked off with co-ordinating road deliveries at the same time as requesting donations and funds now that one or two highways have just been cleared by the wonderful Ses, Police and townspeople working on the the Bruce Highway and other roads/highways.

There is a long-standing and absurd expectation that people who live in the country are tough. We seem to expect that they can do without, that they can just deal when their property is damaged. The reality is that a house is a house whether it is in the city or in the country. It houses families, memories, the possessions that often represent years of savings and, ultimately, it houses entire lives. A flooded house is a flooded house whether it is in the city of the country.

While produce departments and, at times, dairy departments have been bare here in North Queensland since the start of the year, at least we have food to eat and water to drink. We have electricity, phone coverage, homes to go to and fuel to put in our cars. What's more, we have a port and a RAAF base to accommodate the deliveries that couldn't come by truck. Brisbane has these things, too, though some residents may be in no position to take advantage of them for some time. What we need to learn is that this country (or at least this state) does ride on the backs of the truckies but, sometimes, the truckies just can't make it. I am not an engineer, nor am I a politician, but one thing we can see is that our current level of infrastructure is not adequate. We can't simply rebuild - we need to improve. Julia Gillard indicated that she shared this view, though how much - and when - this comes through remains to be seen.

Perhaps they are tougher in the country, but they're certainly not superhuman.

..in worse situations compared to city folk with closer cities and suburbs towards the Gold Coast.

Perhaps some of us interstate could also contact our Local Member sending them your OLO article urgently Peter [I will do this now] and follow up with a phone call early in the morning.