Suseonline,

Please read my post above. It probably escaped your attention while drafting.

otb,

Here's an example of a nation "stepping up".

http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/press/news/2014/fight_ebola.html?id=768563
(Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

"Norway is doubling its support for the fight against Ebola, and will be contacting the UN, the UK Government and other relevant actors to offer personnel and equipment for their operations. A new contribution of NOK 89 million brings Norway’s total funding for the fight against Ebola to just over NOK 184 million.

‘The situation is critical in the West African countries that are affected by the disease. The outbreak is spreading faster than the response. Efforts need to be significantly and rapidly stepped up in order to stop the outbreak,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende."

"‘Preparations are underway to provide air transport for personnel and equipment if needed. We have entered into an agreement on the use of civilian air ambulance capacity from the US and other countries for evacuating Norwegian citizens in the event of suspected or confirmed Ebola infection. We are also seeking to make a C-130 Hercules aircraft available as a back-up solution,’ said Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The new allocation represents a doubling of Norway’s support for the efforts to fight Ebola. Norway’s contribution now totals NOK 184.2 million, including the NOK 15 million allocated to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

In recent weeks, the Ministry of Health and Care Services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, has drawn up measures to address the Ebola outbreak, including preparedness for evacuation of infected persons and assistance to the affected countries in West Africa."

"The allocation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make it possible to provide personnel and equipment for the efforts in West Africa. Some of the allocation will also be given in the form of funding to the UN, the Red Cross and other NGOs."

Th Australian government needs to get its act together and, in concert with other first world countries, make arrangements for evacuation procedures.

otb: A knee-jerk reaction as demanded by the Greens for example would have been fraught with all sorts of problems. Like a mob of helpers arriving at a chemical fire and all rushing in, resulting in multiplication of injuries that have to be handled, and all back to square one.

I agree. Australia is too far away from the Infection Area. & there are other Countries that can handle the situation on the ground.
As I said before Australia is better at doing something Australia is good at, finding cures & Vaccines for diseases'. That can be a Australia's part of the World Offensive on Ebola.

Jayb,

"As I said before Australia is better at doing something Australia is good at, finding cures & Vaccines for diseases'. That can be a Australia's part of the World Offensive on Ebola."

Are you a little dippy....you've just been informed that the Abbott govt has cut funding to CSIRO ending research into Ebola - research which was already underway.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/researchers-hunting-ebola-cure-scrapped-under-budget-cuts/5669842

So far the govt has dithered - and cut research funds...

That's what it's done to fight the spread of this virus.

Poirot,

The report implies the decision was CSIRO management's (which it would have been), see here,

<The Federal Government has cut more than $110 million from the research organisation's budget and as a result up to eight researchers will lose their jobs at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria>

Obviously CSIRO management has given priority to other research (some mentioned in the article).

Of course the government could take some money from the rather fat national broadcaster that duplicates other information channels and give that to medical researchers and earmarked for Ebola.

Would you countenance putting Ebola research ahead of talk fests on the ABC though?

As I've noted before,it is the panic in the picture theatre which kills more than the fire. However Prof Francis Boyle who wrote the laws to stop the weaponisation of disease says they are weaponising Ebola and have combined it with the Flu. See the link below.

http://www.infowars.com/bio-weapons-expert-ebola-outbreak-is-a-bio-weapon-release/