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Topic Date User

Bushwalker missing in the Bluies?? 27-Jul-2009 At 4:19:40 PM anthonyk

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On 27/07/2009 manacubus wrote:
>There is no fundamental difference to the rescuers between some
>poor local bugger who needs a rescue and doesn't make the papers, and a
>UK kid who survives for 12 days and gets world press. Therefore, given
>the service is the same, what we charge for that service must remain the
>same. It must remain 'free' to the individual (taxpayer funded). I also
>100% agree with Tris, in that as soon as Australia starts demanding money
>for rescues, we will have initiated a cascade of changes which will ultimately
>impact our engagement in adventurous pursuits in this country.

you've missed the fact that the "service" runs on good-will. its about people putting in time and effort to help people that have ended up in unfortunate situations. your argument might hold if it was a government funded operation, where the people are paid a wage to perform a certain task, and the task remains the same regardless of the post-rescue outcome. in the steve fossett case the government politely asked for contributions for the cost of the search from fossett's beneficiaries, but recognised that the costs of the search were covered by taxes. in this case however the search is being done by volunteers.

a lot of essential services in this country are run by volunteers, and it jeopardises the system when people exploit it. either people need to maintain good-will, or it should switch to a professional system where funding comes from a tax stream through the tourism industry etc.

at least it seems the person is making some kind of contribution to the S&R 'cause' by taking part in awareness campaigns etc etc.