Charity begins at home Australian Aid money is needed to help Australians at the moment."

One thing I have noticed with this group is that the most vocal want to talk around & around in circles. No one puts up a possible or viable solution. I guess that's "not their job." & "that's what we pay Pollies for."

My daughter lives close by the flooded area. They went & helped cleanup & put friends up who were affected. I have donated clothing & bedding. We did offer accomodation but it was refused as we are a fair way out of town. That's about the best my wife & I can do.

JAYB You are talking to much sense for these people to absorb. That is not what they are here for. These people want AU to go into debt, for political reasons. The ones against the levy are abbott supporters, and they cannot find 1.40 in their budget to pay the levy. so don't take anything you see written here as gospel, it is only a pastime.

On the subject of a levy I would go with Abbot on this one, There is allot of wasted revenue floating in multiple areas of government division.

Problem is that money is added not redirected from areas or divisions that are not producing, and/or redundant in the ways of being independent workings or profitable.

No one should be paying a extra levy, Australians are generous and every time the current government introduces something new they add the cost to our annual revenue. hence the public and country end up taking up more costs..

Meaning that over a short time periods rates and living costs increase to counter act such introductions.. meaning more and more will be coming out of your pocket in the long run and less money in surplus for new or existing infrastructures.

I notice someone mentioned churches, these should be last on the list for rebuilding, they are tax free, offer no business return of the country and people don't need a church straight away to pray..

Houses, businesses, parks, roads and utilities etc are the most important..

.05 may not be much but then a again that’s on top of 1.5, plus gst, plus ambulance levy’s, rates and numerous other levies.

We employee people in government to run this country. Our government is our countries business, run it like a business not a loss

Can we take the politics out of it, just for once?
EVERY first world country gives charitable donations, those with under standing know often in their own interests.
At our peril stop aid to humanity.
And know we are alone in the western world doing it[stopping]
And why the focus on $5? many, great numbers pay no levee, only the highest income pay the $5
And a5 what ever,you are floundering here, lashing out at every one,including those who suffered and in fact agree with you.
read posts after your last before contributing as a habit please.
Yes we should have a flood levee yes we should have the proposed cuts.
And no rechtub, you may not need the NBN your lost tribe the Abbott Rabbits know we do,and if in power may well continue it.
See Tony is a Circus sprooker trying to get us in to look at the freaks that do not exist.
Only time will confirm if Australia is weary of this little man crying wolf.

Belly "Can we take the politics out of it, just for once?"

The politics is well and truly entrenched in this. Right from the top down and it's actually very relevant.

Those either opposed to the levy or accepting that we probably need it but not agreeing with the way some money is used nor happy about the political choices which lead to the need for it are being attacked with a political slant (and some quite nasty personal inferences).

Politics is all through this and I'd be very surprised if politicians from all parties are not paying a lot of attention as to how they can use it to improve their own electoral position.

For many of us the money involved in the levy won't be a big issue and many will have given far more in donations or time than the levy amounts but that does not make concerns about previous mismanagement of Queensland's water infrastructure or the way funding is raised nor about the way money has been used (or misused) previously irrelevant to the debate.

This is not an either or argument, a disagreement with some of the governments choices does not equate to a lack of concern for those suffering or a wish to do nothing to help.

I do appreciate your willingness to highlight the damage done by a597 and the style of attack against others.

R0bert

Good points GY. But I'm surprise you didn't mention the insurance industry. I'm not suggesting they could foot the whole reconstruction bill after natural disasters, but they part of the future reform process that needs to be in place. ??