What they wouldn't do for us

With our money . The largess of government needs to be seen to be believed. Currently in January it is not seen and therefore not believed:  Julia Gillard and Christine Milne can promise to save us: promise to save us from ourselves even . If I didn't have a spiritiual bent, I would suggest that  all of us are infected with "a disease" ; a disease that exaggertes our image of our power , our influence and our influence over ourselves .Its a mentall illness issue because it is a power that not even God has. ,We seem to think WE have power we do not have  . Weird .

Over 2 decades ago when some simple Libs were trying to sell off the SIO office I wrote to and called Ranald McDonald(3LO ABC) and asked him to check out whether 3rd party situation in particular - whether they were infact, despite all the simple rhetoric, efficient and effective . Knowing the "allwise" cynicsm about public authorities , I reminded him , as a risk analysist and public policy person,  that participation was important and that cross subsidization was Ok ( all heresies that are still too complex fro simple idealists  and practical policy incompetents ).
I knew that SIO were very efficient in that area because they , and our forefathers,  didn't let mere price determine everything - participation and responsibility must be taught and shown in practice and prosecution - its a basic principle of ecomia ,, but do our kids know and see that! - We used to save them by drawing their attention to danger - prevention and protection , not by concentrating on fire fighting services. ( Believe me , i been there --the Bureau love them for being so stupid and making their job so much more single focused than it should be )
The SIO made money then and they still do ( as far as i am aware ). There is therefore no reason ( apart from the simple logic of some, like the IPA) why BASIC house and other spread risk issues insurance couldn't be mandated .
Care is required to make any private public partnership work . While Jim........... is probably right that private insurers are making a killing ( esp when all the hard "GOD caused it " is now taken on the NOW very broad shoulders of our angel friends in power ) the paradox is that Private insurers are NOW doing a better job than some public talk on the subject ( which is just plain careless) because the private professionals hold people responsible for taking high risks and RIGHTLY SO ." You want insurance for your 300 HP sports car ?" Fine - it will cost you more .

You wanna live in the bark laden native forest ? Something like kindling standing up and with enough space between the pieces  to make it blow when it burns ?"Well - its your choice BUT ......

We need to respect those who study to show themselves approved in these complex areas. When everyone is an expert, the important voices can be easily lost in wild speculation, http://ondewolf.blogspot.com. Julia and The Greens leaders (Ms Milne) should keep their mouths shut until they are sure they know what they are talking about
Its a wonderful thing ( when  life is affordable and not taxed out) when the jounos actually listen and learn from those involved in a costly and local way. Fortunately Ranald was that sort of bloke . He wrote me a note back saying " you were right "and we kept the SIO from being sold ( The sale was all expected to happen at that time )

Study to show yourselves approved and give our children a legacy of low cost, low risk living free of high taxing high claiming saviours and freeloading high risk takers . Be realistic about real risks and prosecute those who are careless with our/their resources.  I have fought many forest and grass fires and protecetd people from them directly ( and the same applies to floods) .

We seem to be living in an age of fear and stupidity; And these three things in combination .
( you are wondering about the third one - well that's for YOU  to add - after all if we are to build a consensus we have to agree that there is more to knowing than any number of categories will ever know or show you ) 

Government is not god

Try telling that to some of our leaders and media who seem to think they have the power to do just about anything . In a typical simplicity the LABOR and GREEN dummies ignore the fact that PRIVATE insurers NOW  often do a better job of directing investment in some areas of risk management . Why ?-we wonder :Because they hold people responsible for their actions.
 Private insurance companies must be laughing all the way to the bank with the current government offering to save everybody from everything .Current mood of government to not insist ( as private insurers do ) that people take responsibility for taking higher than normal risks is dangerous because it will cause those of us who expect to be treated fairly to pay for others high risk taking . It is no joke  or coincidence that we have all been slugged fire and flood levies when fire and flood risks have NOT increased overall and  most of us DO NOT live in high fire and flood risk areas. Appeals are often needed and can do a good job if tied down in a community ( as testified above) .Professional risk and insurance management has a preventative and protective focus. Our governments are sadly growing organs that run around trying to putting fires out--- instead of preventing them. My work has been in assessing these and many other site related risks  http://designwithnature.blogspot.com