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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Australians,Wrong colour,wrong religion or too rich

165 replies

SalvadorDalek · 13/01/2011 20:04

I have not seen a disaster appeal for the floods in Australia (I dont know if there is one so forgive me if there is)
Are they not worthy?

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 13/01/2011 20:07

i think there is one.

have you actually looked?

hockeyforjockeys · 13/01/2011 20:09

Probably because they have a stable, wealthy state and therefore are able to provide disaster relief themselves. Other countries have offered practical support (including the UK). The problem with places like Pakistan is that their is no welfare state or many government resources that can pick up the pieces in times like this. Plus in Australia many will be insured so will be able to rebuild in the future. But if you want to help www.redcross.org.au/default.asp is the place to go. However they are also using their funds for international disaster relief as well as in Queensland.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 13/01/2011 20:11

has there been a disaster appeal for the Brazilian mudslides or are they the wrong colour, wrong religion or too poor?

susiedaisy · 13/01/2011 20:12

yeah agree with hockey,

JoBettany · 13/01/2011 20:13

I am sure I saw a link on one of the threads in Chat if you want to donate SD

hockeyforjockeys · 13/01/2011 20:14

there not their

Original poster
SalvadorDalek · 13/01/2011 20:14

sethstarkaddersmackerel
That just happened today so an appeal will probably on its way. The Australian floods have been going on a few days now

OP posts:
chitchatinsantasear · 13/01/2011 20:15

They don't need instant donations just to survive like in other countries, but there certainly is a flood relief appeal:

Qld flood relief appeal

StewieGriffinsMom · 13/01/2011 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

weeandpoo · 13/01/2011 20:16

I feel great sympathy for those affected but since the floods were caused because their government didn't build flood defences and built a now mothballed desalination plant instead (at a cost of 1.5 billionish au dollars) i post of think they should pay.

Practical help fine but no money, sorry

KnittingRocks · 13/01/2011 20:18

Donate here

Not sure of the need for such a provocative thread title?

chitchatinsantasear · 13/01/2011 20:20

weeandpoo - Do you seriously believe that??? Brisbane might have been saved by bigger flood defences, but there is no way that the outback could have been saved by flood defences. For heaven's sakes, the floods would have covered several European countries!!! How flaming big do you want the flood defences to be???????

TattyDevine · 13/01/2011 20:22

The Australian Government donated $1 billion to the Indonesian Tsunami, $66.5 million to the Pakistan floods and have donated $1 million towards the QLD floods.

The Government did build some flood defenses, but they were not adequate in these unusually bad conditions.

saturdaynightpants · 13/01/2011 20:22

The area is 6 times that of UK

how cab you build flood defences in emerald and rocky ffs PMSL

saturdaynightpants · 13/01/2011 20:23

tattydevie they were also the first to donate to new oreans

weeandpoo · 13/01/2011 20:24

Sorry should have read flood defences and dams.

My point was they can afford to pay for this themselves

saturdaynightpants · 13/01/2011 20:24

I dont think they have actually asked for any money

TattyDevine · 13/01/2011 20:26

What apart from the Wivenhoe dam you mean?

TattyDevine · 13/01/2011 20:26

We are talking about an area you could comfortably fit several European countries into by the way.

nancy75 · 13/01/2011 20:27

weeandpoo - the bribane river has a dam, which was, i believe at 200% capacity. the amount of rainfall they have had is unheard of and no amount of defences could have stopped this. Australia is a country that always offers help when others need it and they always donate generously. Many of my family live in Brisbane and their whole lives have been washed away - your attitude is quite shocking.

echt · 13/01/2011 20:28

weeandpoo Brisbane City Council offered to buy homes in flood- prone areas of Queensland but had a very poor take-up, less than 10% of those eligible.

Even if all of these had taken up the offer, the scale of the flooding was immense.

Also, have you seen how big Australia is?

saturdaynightpants · 13/01/2011 20:29

there is also the atkinson dam btw

twirlymum · 13/01/2011 20:29

The area is the size of France and Germany combined.
I understand the queen has made a personal donation.

saturdaynightpants · 13/01/2011 20:31

The state of queensland is about 6 times the size of uk...floods were widespread. rockhampton, gympie, goondi as well as down south

chitchatinsantasear · 13/01/2011 20:31

The Federal Government may not have donated a lot instantly in cash compared to their donationgs for international crises, but it is their services which are going to be paying for it. Housing, emergency welfare payments, any use of military, all of that will come from the Federal Government. Health, which is a state government expense, will probably need a huge cash injection as well which will also come from the Federal Government. So why would they donate cash, when they have to 'pay' for these things anyway!

There will also be grants for farmers, businesses, etc made available in the aftermath. It will cost a LOT of money.

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