US asks Australia for much more Ebola help

The gov has been dragged kicking and screaming to this. Australians and other members of the world community have been aghast at Abbott's stinginess, especially when Abbott was so fuckin eager to buy stupid planes and fight stupid wars. All they did was a token gesture of a few million dollars, and said it was too dangerous to send medical personnel. Which got a big WTF? from everyone.

Including I suspect Washington; Tone's best mates. Reading between the lines, it sounds a bit like Washington is really pissed off with their boy Tone. So they've put an official request through diplomatic channels to Australia to FFS pull your finger out and give us a hand mate. Included in that is a specific request for medical personnel.

Washington has asked Australia to build three Ebola field hospitals in West Africa and staff them with about 100 doctors and support workers as part of a stronger global effort to tackle the crisis. 

Fairfax Media has learnt that as part of a third and much more specific request to the Abbott government, Washington has also suggested Australia put a further $30 million towards the United Nations Ebola fund and provide airlift capabilities such as helicopters, as well as ground vehicles, emergency communications equipment and logistics. 

But, most notably, it is asking for a specific contribution of health workers. For several weeks, the Abbott government has baulked at sending Australian medicos, citing a lack of arrangements to provide treatment to any Australian who might contract the lethal virus. 

The US request is for Australia to build and staff three treatment facilities with 100 beds each. It is understood that to staff each hospital around the clock would require nine doctors and 24 support staff such as nurses, taking the total to about 100 health workers for the three facilities. 

Washington is also offering for Australians to be trained at a facility the US Department of Defence has set up in Monrovia, Liberia – one of the two worst-affected countries along with Sierra Leone. more

Poor old SSJoe. Now Ebola is torpedoing his fucked up budget as well as the senate. No wonder he's getting a persecution complex.

Anyway the gov should be great at building offshore detention medical centres with all the practice they've had. Does get very expensive though eh. 

Good on you Washington. There's actually something good coming out of this crazy alliance we have, that being in this case Washington says jump and Tone will say "how high?". Finally all this military stuff being put to an actual humanitarian crisis and not some ideological religious war.

Now what we need is Washington to boot their lap dog Tone in the ass over climate change.