Is it any wonder that first world countries like Australia rank among the highest with levels of alcoholism, domestic violence, diabetes and obesity running so rife in communities.

FOR God’s sake don’t let Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop find out about California’s drought crisis.

She’s liable to give them millions and millions of our dollars.

IT’S certainly not a distraction calling the banks to account for their past and by the recent revelations, current actions.

It won't be a distraction for those either who had been basically scammed by banks and their affiliates, be it insurance or the like for bad investments or dud policies.

But, when it comes to protecting the big end of town, the Coalition has the gig sewn up.

THE Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife wants to raise $15,000 to help scientists and wildlife carers deal with the effects of the January and February devastating bushfires (The Examiner, April 13).

Not a mention of the animals plight during the fires, and now they want the public to sponsor some sort of bushfire recovery effort.

Where’s the government funding? It’s a bit like - too little too late.

Most of the animals affected by the fires have either perished or are in eed of euthanising.

To even locate any survivors or injured animals would require a massive search and trapping campain, a strategy that should have been happening ahead of the fire fronts in conjunction with the firefighters.