It’s official: the government plans to introduce a national flood levy to help pay for the approx $5 billion damage bill from the Queensland floods. Here is how it will effect you:

In addition, there will be cuts to spending including a rebate for people wanting to change to a greener car. The Opposition is not happy (admittedly, this is their job). They say more spending should be slashed. I’m not sure they have their tone right on this one – they’re running a very negative line (re: not ‘fair’ that people have donated and that it’s an insult to them and everyone who has volunteered to help) that I’m not hearing echoed in the wider community. The spirit of mateship and pulling together around these floods has been extraordinary and I haven’t sensed a change in mood yet – have you? Or is the Coalition just being opportunistic? Feels like they’re appealing to a pretty mean-spirited philosophy on this one.

Others (including me) think there should be some kind of on-going fund that pays for such catastrophic disasters like the Victorian fires and the Queensland floods.

According to Fairfax news reports:

UPDATE: Tony Abbott has found himself with an usual supporter, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally wants changes to the flood tax levy for residents in Sydney, citing an already high cost of living.

From ABC Online:

What do you think? Are you still feeling the love for Queensland? Do you think the way the levy will be structured is ‘fair’? Does fair even come into it when people have lost everything they own?

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