Er Cherful, according to this article, Indonesia received $491 "million" in foreign aid from Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4435572.html

Care to let us in on how that translates to "12 billion"?

(Oh, just noticed that Philip has already addressed this, but I'll let it stand)

Hasbeen, my dear one, just as an aside, here in WA you can have oxygen concentrators and portable oxygen cylinders etc at home for free if they are ordered by a respiratory specialist....as long as you really need it.

Ask your GP for a referral.

It's cheaper for the Government to keep you longer at home on oxygen than send you to hospital or residential care.
With all those problems, no wonder you are a grumpy old thing : )

Lucky you live in Australia.

A sea of failure to understand,while Susionline described how she see,s it, I shudder, every time the usual suspects get such a home.
To rant and yell, their failure to understand.
Life has told me, and Rechtub, often, take government assistance from them! and watch the fun!
Offer it to those most in need, even with BOTH SIDES supporting it?
Our author needs desperately to find a mirror, on doing so do not spend too much time looking for a balanced or understanding person, time is too valuable to look for what is not there!
At least mate, I make my own insults for the woman, not re-useing the red neck convoys shallow and self amuseing ones, then again my mind works!

Poirot, I am afraid you are falling into the Belly Trap, of criticizing everything I say, without first reading what I say, as my comment was based more on the fact that the aid could be wasted, than the amount paid.

Now having said that, tell me, do you honestly think it is wise to provide aid to a country that is in surplus, while we, the provider are in deficit?

More so, dont you think the Indo authorities would make a better effort to stop the boats leaving, if their much relied upon aid funding was at risk! Because after all, if the boats dont leave, then we don't have to they to stop them.

Food for thought hey!

I can't see how the problems are a bad as you suggest rehctub...

"Whilst the concept of the NDIS might be fine as far as it goes, I very much doubt that the costs of operating the scheme have been properly thought out... the NDIS will employ an army of largely unproductive leeches, will consume vast quantities of money in its administration, and do little or nothing for those its supposed to support."

It has bipartisan and broad public support in concept and since you know the results of the September election, all of those problems of maladministration and mismanagement you fear can't possibly happen. Can they?

So no downside, and some septuagenarian parents desperate - not because they have borne the costs of caring for a disabled child their entire lives - but with fear for the future when they no longer can, might have a little peace of mind.

Sincerest apologies, rehctub... obviously the previous was to praxidice.

Although the general point applies.