Abbott government to scrap further budget cuts to the australian car industry.

[jason.ruff]

Its been like pigs at the trough up here for years. Every NGO has an office in Darwin so they can get a slice of the pie. I think we do have some moral obligation to assist those countries less fortunate than ourselves, but agree we should fix our own problems as priority number one. Start talking of population control in third world countries and you get accused of genocide!!

[jason.ruff]

This has touched a bit of a nerve with me. Before Abbott made his speech I had emailed Nigel Scullion the Indigenous affairs minister about something reported in the local news. After the cyclone went through Arnhem land it was reported that 50 houses in Millingimbi would need to be replaced. I asked the question, are they insured, who owns them and who is responsible for them. Is this money coming out of the public purse, Pretty sure if my house blew down the government would do sweet FA to help me out. Still waiting for a response.

[HK1837]

Totally agree with you Jason but the handouts just should not stop there
they could save the aussie tax payer 1 billion $$$ a year easy
but noooo we have to help people in other countries before we help our own people
go figure
i will never understand how our government thinks its got me f@&$?!

Only going from memory Gene but I think there are international obligations that go along with being part of the G20 or other such bodies. It'd all be online somewhere, not sure where to look though and I agree it can be hard to fathom sometimes when you see people struggling in our own country. I guess the flip side is living in a poor country where there is no help for anyone, I've seen how people live in rural and semi-rural areas in places like Malaysia, Thailand, Fiji etc and it isn't very appealing.