I think tiga would be offended ever being called a "labour lover" 
Correct! But they have enough tremors and earthquakes to justify it. The don't call NZ the "Shaky Isles" for nothing. Plus you need to compare apples with apples. NZ have a 138 billion dollar economy (2009 GDP) compared to our 1.22 trillion dollar economy (GDP 2009), so they are affected far greater by natural disasters than we are from an economic standpoint. If you have a 12 billion dollar disaster (estimate from Christchurch Earthquake) in a country with a GDP of 119 billion its gonna hurt a whole lot more than if you have a 5 billion dollar disaster (QLD floods approx) in a country like ours with a GDP of 1.22 trillion.
Queensland though contributes 20% to our GDP and 80% of banana crops are destroyed while 60% of the coal mines were flooded and shut down and many livestock killed in the floods. The affect of the natural disasters up North especially due to the floods will mean we'll take a hit to our nation's growth over at least one quarter.
Firstly I won't even debate Daniel161toomany or whatever his name is for as usual he has continued with his M.O of resorting to personal insults when he can't find something intelligent to say. I think I will be "More richer" by not responding to his drivel. Daniel you could learn a lesson or two from MT when it comes to Human decency and sensible debate. Now let me just turn the white noise level down a bit and continue with some intelligent discussion.
Let me just clarify my statement earlier....What I meant to say was are we better off financially as far as the Nations finances (Budget) are concerned, not if our own personal standard of living has improved. I personally have continued to increase my standard of living throughout my working life no matter who is in power but that is because of my own efforts in improving my skills and making myself highly employable, not government policy. However my "cost" of living has also increased with my standard of living and will continue to do thanks to the continual introduction of post election taxes under this current government.
MT I understand that Queensland contributes 20% to our GDP but that figure would only be accurate if 100% of Queensland industry were severely affected by the floods. Or just to clarify, are you saying that the damage caused by the floods has hit our GDP by 20% or one quarter of 20%? I listened to an interview recently from the head of a QLD farming Co-op (Can't remember his name) and he said that the crop damage they encountered amongst his members overall was about 45% of total output across the board and it would take around 18 months to get back to 100%. One fruit type in Banana's being severely affected doesn't warrant a new tax.
I agree MT that Insurance companies (actually I think is the reinsurance companies who are more devious) have moved the goal posts as you say but that was not the reason for Queensland not taking any insurance out at all on their infrastructure.
Oh and while we are on new taxes, lets all welcome our brand new shiny carbon tax which has been introduced deceitfully by that liar Jillard or as she is now known as Juliar. Let me quote her during the election campaign..."There will be no Carbon tax under the Government I lead" and then Wayne Swan said..."We have made our position very clear, we have ruled it out," as told to told ABC Television. This is not Anti-Labor sentiment or being quoted out of context, this is undeniable fact and on the public record.
Here's an easy question, do you want a proven liar to run our Country? Hey why not! And now we can look forward to petrol prices going up immediately by 6 cents a litre as soon as this carbon tax is implement.
