A couple more of these ban suggestions & we can safely assume the australian bureaucracy & mentality too has well & truly gone off the rails. Let's hope we get invaded because with a bit of luck we might get infected with some sense.

Some good examples, however most have their own blind spots through irrational fears and crooked thinking. What constitutes Nanny state regulation depends on one's outlook and for some their political alliances (surrendering their judgement).

To take some examples:

- proposed swimming warnings and prohibition on unpatrolled beaches;

- demands that any man seen 'loitering' near a school be interviewed and told to move on by police;

- Howard's gun buy-back and gun laws (since found to have had no effect whatsoever in reducing gun crime);

- demand for more 'education' and tougher testing of new drivers, following the report of any nasty road accident involving youth;

- demand to remove the points on all chef's knives because they could be used as weapons (UK, police);

- banning of photographs on beaches (assumed paedophiles, perves or potential rapists)

- demand to change the national flag through the belief that all 'Aussies' must be racists and xenophobes because some fools used the flag inappropriately;

Over-control through regulation does not only come from the irrational belief in risk avoidance, it can also result from jealousy, intolerance and prejudice. There seems to be a growth in the number of whiners and serial botherers in Australia. Looking over the neighbour's fence and troublemaking is fast becoming a national pastime.

Australia's population has almost doubled in the past 10 years.
Has the number of surf clubs and the number of patrolled beaches double. I think not.
Hence the problem and also the solution.

ponde, "Australia's population has almost doubled in the past 10 years."

Infrastructure cannot keep up with that.

Further, the volunteers for lifesaving and the people who donate money to it tend to come from the previous 'mainstream' of the Australian population. Other voluntary community help/support organisations have also been feeling the pinch.

It is impossible to legislate against stupiddity and, stupiddity is the cause, or contributor of many 'avoidable' deaths.

The problem is that once you try to legislate against stupiddity, you also effect those who have the 'common sense' approach to life and, you end up punishing those who do the right thing all in the name of saving stupid people.

Once again, the minority wins!

I'm appalled by the selfishness of those like Foxy, who are prepared to risk the lives of helpless babies just to clean them. What's wrong with a pre-moistened towelette? The complete safety implications would need to be investigated by a committee of trained professionals of course and obviously grandparents would need to be trained in their safe use, but if even one child is saved it would surely be worth it. Besides, think of the potential profits for the State if we can attract the new boom industry of moist towellette manufacturing.

Rstuart, your point about Xenophon's proposal protecting the innocent from "Cougar" attack is spot on. Every day we are confronted with more evidence in the press that middle-aged women are becoming ever more voracious sexually as well as becoming ever-heavier.

King Hazza, here in Queensland, Anna bligh's government has anticioated your concern with people undertaking hazardous recreations by making it an offence to participate in "unregulated high-risk activities". Anna, as always, is at the forefront of social policy formulation. She's a mother, you know.

Ponde, as you point out, our population is increasing rapidly. That means there are more children. Do we not owe it to the children of our immigrants to ensure that they are safe? Do we not want Australia to be a shining beacon of safety in a world of risk? Many of their parents have never seen large bodies of water before (except on the boat coming over perhaps). We cannot expect them to be sufficiently cognizant of the risks to allow them access. Think of the children.

rehctub and individual, you are obviously out of step with the community on this, preferring your own selfish "right" to swim over the safety of children. Shame on you.