Near full employment ? Are you people serious ? Ah, I see, you count those working for the dole as fully employed. Very nice indeed. So much concern for others. It's really heart warming. Get real. I work with people who are fully employed under CDEP or CA as it is known now. That's one of the more disgusting ways of treating the victims of economic mismanagement. Also, why so much opposition to national service ? I thought you were all such proud Australians who hold mateship so high, well at least when it comes to blowing your own trumpet.
Get those who don't have a job now & give them the start that's been denied to so many in past years. national service will do that. Get rid of working for the dole and give young people who want to do more than just become mindless consumers a go. Now is the chance.

Individual:

I think that Queensland needs trained, qualified people with experience in emergency services, untrained youths would be a hazard and a hinderance for those experienced, and doing the work. It's in the nation's interest to also work out a program suitable for all flood-prone areas to control and deflect any future floods by by-passing towns and agricultural areas with engineered canals and designing giant flood-control basins clear of all critical areas. In the US the cities of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and despite its recent tragedy, New Orleans, all have engineered precautions to cope with
flooding. Note, that the New Orleans tragedy came from a cyclone arriving from the sea and not flood waters from the river.

I observed from the TV footage that quite a few of the homes that were flooded appear to be recently built and I ask 'How Come'?

What authorities allowed the development and the building of homes in flood areas?

I know that, here in NSW, Local councils have had authority for many years to prevent urban developement and home construction in known flood areas. In fact my local council has produced maps showing the areas prohibited for home construction, because of flooding.

If the last major floods were in 1974, surely something has gone very wrong if homes have been constructed in the flood areas since then.

Some questions need to be asked related to when homes were built and if they were approved after 1974. Town Planners and Engineers may have some explaining to do.

Lexi,
Of course untrained people are more of a hindrance than a help. That's the main reason/point of my argument for national service. National service is more likely than not our only chance as a functioning society to train young people. No one, not even me, is expecting to throw young people into the deep end of emergency service work. Like any apprentice they can start in loading trucks etc etc & before long they'll be capable & contributing members of our society. The reason why we so many literally useless people is because they're all rather educated but have had zilch exposure to practical work & consideration kind of thinking. National Service provides the stepping stone for young people to acquire these vital qualities. Just look at how many people have emerged from the armed forces as competent technicians & trade & other professions. CDEP or the Dole don't have that track record. I don't for one minute believe that it is asking too much for a young person to spend one year of their live with the prospect of having better prospects in later life. A situation such as the floods invokes compassion among people so, let's not a handful of idealists who only believe in accepting benefits but not responsibility, try & counter the need for a national service.

I am sorry about this individual, please stop referring to me in the third person.
In return I under take to lower my expectations from you.
We have unemployment but not the skills needed, by the end of reconstruction you will see a shortage of workers.
Now this morning every morning, I have read three newspapers online.
One of our very biggest has let it be known they intend to poach west Australian fly in fly out workers.
To work here.
You saw Lexis post,surely you know chippys and plumbers tilers and leckys can not be found in those ranks.
Look in goggle at the history of Darwin rebuilding, it drained workers from around this country.
Take a breath, think about your posting habits,and under stand not every one who disagrees with you is wrong.

chippys and plumbers tilers and leckys can not be found in those ranks.
Belly,
I don't get it re referring to you in the third person. I don't mean to degrade anyone via that avenue.
The whole idea of making young people to do national service is to counter the down slide of competence in trade in society such as we're seeing now or am I just imagining that down slide. As any union delegate will point out to you many happily accept the benefits of an agreement but no-one wants to pay the fees. Well, I look at national service with that very view. Everyone will accept the benefit of a more functioning society but many don't want to give even a measly 12 months for everyone's benefit. There's not a single person out there who can convince me that such a service would not be beneficial. We hear so much about young people being unhappy or have no direction or find life meaningless. I believe it is up to us to instigate counter action & national service is one highly effective tool to start with. National service involves people involving people & that is the core of society strengthening. The age-old adage of you have to be cruel to be kind rings just so true. So to get young people to understand how to care they first have to be exposed to discipline in order to appreciate it.. National service is that tool. Just imagine how many full-time positions could be created by a national service. I'm talking about full-time showing young people the way to become a valuable link in a great society. It really should be a no-brainer to anyone to visualise the positive snow-balling effect of such a scheme in all aspects of society. Over and out.