When the actual flooding stops I would like to see a Qld & Federal Government initiative to get off on the right foot.
How about engaging many of the young unemployed as part of a trial national service under the supervision of qualified & competent people not some academic high achiever idealists.
I truly believe that Australia couldn't receive a louder & clearer message for implementing a national service.
Let's engage the resource sitting out there looking for something to do. The chance is here now. Engaging the unemployed under the same pay conditions as used to be the military service would save great cost & provide a magnificent stepping stone for nation building. It would also negate more stimulus packages which only benefit the consultants who already have enough. Give my tax dollar to those who need & not to those who want more.

Nice idea Indy

But we've seen what happens

With such knee-jerk schemes

(Shouldn't that be "we have", not "we've", Shintaro?)

I am sure that there will be a long and fascinating laundry-list of recommendations forthcoming on the topic "how to rebuild Queensland".

I hope, though, that not too many will be such shameless peddling of a hobby-horse as this one, under the guise of "only trying to help".

>>I truly believe that Australia couldn't receive a louder & clearer message for implementing a national service<<

The linkage between our national response to a natural disaster, and the dragooning of our youth into State servitude is... what, exactly?

And which calculator did you use for this speculation?

>>Engaging the unemployed under the same pay conditions as used to be the military service would save great cost<<

Is that "all" the unemployed? For how long do you anticipate supporting their pay and conditions - housing, welfare etc.? Is this just a Queensland "solution", or do you see it as being national. 'Cos if it is only QLD, would you consider penalties for those who decide to emigrate to Tweed Heads?

Oh, and while we're checking your sums (you still have the beer mat, I presume?), how exactly does this work?

>>It would also negate more stimulus packages which only benefit the consultants who already have enough<<

Be honest, individual. You didn't actually think it through, did you. You just decided "let me take advantage of the misery presently being visited upon tens of thousands of people, as an excuse to once more harrumph about the yoof of today."

Don't worry, though. You're not the first, and you won't be the last to take advantage of the plight of these hapless folk.

Au is near full employment, i don't know where you are going to find these unemployed as suggested by indy; Besides that there is a health and safety issue there or are you suggesting we by pass that

Quite so, Pericles

I lost a syllable in

The flood, it appears!

(Also agreed on your substantive point)

May sound silly but from where are we going to find these mass unemployed youths.
We are closer to full employment than we have been for a while, see todays figures.
It is a fact some are, like it or not work shy, and we are going to see, as mines reopen and rebuilding starts very big shortages of workers.
More 457 visas? likely but lets rebuild before we take on new projects.