It is, so Abbott said the duty of the government to fund these events.
And so it is, with our money.
How man of us would be upset if a tax was imposed.
We, the better of us, donate to help with these things and surely we should.
Abbott spoke of a common sense view we should take flood prone houses and move them.
Very well said we should, but at what cost, how do we pay.
I increasingly have concerns about some charity's.
And no doubt we all share those concerns about any government.
yes pay, we should even if it hurts.
Cuts in other government funded things can be avoided if we put a special tax on every Australian .
What do others think.
And remember the benefits of flood proofing, fires too, include an active economy.
A National infrastructure plan as big as the snowy river scheme, rebuilding flood and fire prone things away from such dangers?

To strike a levy or similar is the way to go. Fires and floods are going to be expensive. Abbott's first thought was for a gillard tax coming on, so be it. These events are going to become more prominent wether we want it or not. So build a fund for ongoing events, and hope it's never needed.

579 I had my you know what, in my cheek in praising Abbott.
It is so easy to say what needs doing.
But very hard indeed to do it.
My thoughts include the reception Gillard got when imposing her tax for 2011 floods.
I am well aware it is easy to target any tax.
My idea however is Nation building, massive and may take a century if it is the have effect.
Not just homes, but businesses and factory's, whole towns and massive parts of some city,s, say Brisbane and Grafton for a start, need rebuilding.
Many ways of assisting could be used, say shops of larger sizes get 5 years total, including wages, tax exemption.
Small business get financial assistance and sell the old site to government for flood prone n0o building areas.
Fires area problem, I have little doubt some of us give time as fire volunteers, and that many as I do, know some fires are the acts of fellow fighters, glory seeking.
But too whole villages need wide corridors not tree lined streets.
We will see how it goe,s room exists to make this a true achievement for all of us.
How great it would be, if our ancestors showed the forethought they did in those great wide country roads in both Queensland and country NSW.
Councils must right now stop further development in unsafe areas.

Councils must right now stop further development in unsafe areas.
Belly,
Spot-on ! There are many ways flooding can be limited, it only requires pragmatism.
I have said many times that in places of frequent flooding parallel channels should be made. They could be in the way of Canal development which would create plant of work. It would also offer the opportunity of good real estate. It would make the money go round rather than get locked into Super funding for public servants.
Floods do not get worse every year, they become more devastating every year because of too much concentrated urban sprawl. The water has nowhere to run off quickly or get absorbed into the ground or accommodated by channels. Its a planning engineers stuff-up nothing else. Government must make alternative land available for people to move to. Those who insist on staying can either spend their money on raising their homes or their insurance premiums. I'm sick & tired of paying forever more insurance because some people can't see that they are in the wrong spot. Instead of spending money on repairs they should spend it on relocation. I'm sure that rows of houses removed to make space for a channel would drastically reduce flooding. Insurance companies should be more discerning too up front. Not take the money & then refuse to pay. They too should be part of the re-engineering of the suburbs.

Given a natural disaster, see how quick the conservatives turn into socialists, tax this, government that. Should not a good Tory be saying "Shame on those that lost their houses and didn't have floor insurance." Where is that good old Tory philosophy of prudent behavior and self reliance. To them flood victims should literally sink or swim.
One the other hand those of us with a social conscience most of what has been posted above I agree with.
Individual, are you not the bloke who believes in a national service boot camp in North Queensland? If so recent event would have seen your great unwashed, become the great washed(out) overnight. LOL

This article from OLO in 2011 suggests that local governments have been allowing development on known flood prone land due to pressure from real estate and other business interests

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=11520

Perhaps the cure is to hold the councillors who approved the development personally responsible for any property damage due to flooding. I don't mind paying higher taxes to help once these people have been bankrupted. After all, they are supposedly elected to act in the public interest.