how with so many is national service possible,
Paul1405,
You really are a tiresome mutt at times. What are they doing about these 300,000 now ? They give them unemployment etc benefits without any logistical difficulty. Stop looking at the scheme as a business of the day with instant profits. Start it is the main thing & it all will fall into place. This is a generational scheme that will very quickly turn into a self-supporting character building machine. There'll be requirements for overseers, food & accommodation etc etc. All this will generate economic benefits for everyone. There's even the real possibility of careers within the system. The main thing is to get young people exposed to a period outside their comfort zone & with some luck many will start thinking of themselves as needed. They could do work that can not be done economically by award wages people. The whole aim being to prevent the young from becoming like you with your mentality. The opposers of character building should realise that the benefits of a NMNS won't suddenly materialise on Day1 but once kick-started it'll snowball as most people are of better character than you.
After a couple of years there won't be a need for conscription as many will have enough sense to realise how life actually works. No input, no reward ! Symbiosis is the word !
Now, back to the topic !

Indy,

"What are they doing about these 300,000 now? They give them unemployment etc benefits without any logistical difficulty." What a load of rot! The vast majority of 18 year old's are NOT on the dole, they are NOT committing crime or partaking in anti-social behaviour. The vast majority of young folk at that age are, studying, pursuing careers, adventuring, exploring life, getting a start. Then an old fart like you, who has an axe to grind about young people, did one snatch your wallet or something, bangs on about an impractical thought bubble you've had. Its punishment, because you want to take away from young folk the good things I have mentioned and impose YOUR will on them. YOU have no more right to conscript 18 years old than I do to conscript you 80 year old into my 'SENIORS NATIONAL SERVICE'(Joke). Mate be practical and answer a few basic questions.

Indy

"They could do work that can not be done economically by award wages people." AND what are those jobs? Can't be road repairs, because the conscripts in my SNS will be doing that. As these young folk are as yet un-skilled, you will have them doing menial labouring job (cheap, sound like "work for the dole"), or maybe they can do brain sugary (cheap, "work for the dole") on some of my truculent old nasho's who step out of line!

BTW when my granddaughter was 15 she asked if she could cut my hair, she had watched it done on YouTube, ahhhhhhhh! Judging by her hair cutting ability at 15, I don't think she should be performing brain surgery at 18, no matter how cheap she works.

Paul1405,
You're definitely the most insipid bolshie on OLO & the really sad part is that you don't even know why !

Indyvidual,

Go easy on yourself, mate. Nutjobs only keep having a go at you because you keep responding to them. They are silly, sad creatures constantly seeking attention. Don't give them any is my motto.

Indy,

The other old octogenarian is trying to sooth your busted ego, good luck. Since I don't agree with your conscripted national service, you call me a Bolshie, I'll have you know I was never a member of the Bolshoi Ballet. Saying that, what does that make those who agree with you? Nazi's.

I lampoon you because your idea of a conscripted national service for all 18 year old's is nonsense. YOU didn't even realise there are about 300,000 people aged 18 in Australia, until I told you. Its a "thought bubble" of yours and nothing more, coming from an old bloke who clearly has never done any kind of national service himself. When I was about 19 and protesting both the war in Vietnam and conscription, the only cohort that was in favour of forced militarism were the old farts, and that was because like YOU, they knew they'd never have to do it themselves.

p/s How about coming up with a plan that will save us taxpayers $30 billion in Aged Welfare payments.