The Queensland floods are taking their toll!
A friend in Brisbane has sent me this photo which shows the extreme hardship he is suffering as he can't even access his most essential neighbourhood store.
Seriously though, he is okay as his house at Acacia Ridge (postcode 4110) is well above flood level. Another friend at Deagon (postcode 4017) has just contacted me to let me know that he is all right too. Phew! At last I can stop drinking to their health!
For updates on the flood, go to www.abc.net.au/emergency/flood/.
If you like to help, go to www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html.
Our unelected Prime Minister, in her monochrome, clichéd and unmodulated voice, announced $17 million in aid so far for Queensland flood victims. Just $17 million !
That's after Australia's top 8 recipients have been given a total of 1.669 BILLION in foreign aid in 2009-2010, to wit
Indonesia $ 458.7 million
Papua New Guinea $457.2 million
Solomon Islands $ 225.7 million
Afghanistan $ 123.1 million
Vietnam $ 119.8 million
Philippines $ 118.1 million
East Timor $ 102.7 million
Cambodia $ 64.2 million
In 2010-2011 the Australian Government plans to spend almost $4.4 billion on development assistance to under-developed countries.
Thanks, Julia, for the $17 million aid to your own fellow countrymen and - women! Generous Gillard, they call her!
In the meantime, the floods had some unintended consequences:
