Hugh,

Thanks for asking.

In Irwin's case, and as far as I know, the Offer was made by the State's Premier - the elected leader of our state. As ALL the states in Aust have the leftist party in power, I feel Brock's State Funeral Offer was done so Only because our state leader offered one to Irwin's family and the other leader would have felt out of place if he'd not offered one too.

I think it is up to the Choice of the premier whether the state will offer a funeral service. Such as was the case with, I believe he was, the last Queensland (the name of our state, shortened to Qld) veteran from WWI. When he - Eric Abraham - died in 2003 he was given a State funeral, but not the second last or third last Qld vet from WWI.

As it's a Choice thing, I think the choices are based on Political Brownie Points. Our state Just had an election on Saturday. The lefties won again, and the guy I voted for (Homer Simpson hehe) didn't get in. So offering the state funeral would have gotten him some Good Guy votes.

When the First Aussie in Iraq died, there was Pressure on the Fed Govt to provide a State Funeral. However, that could open a whole can of funeral-worms as ALL dead soldiers would then be entitled to the same Honors. The pressure was a result of a body mix up - the wrong body getting sent back.

Anyway. Long to short. It's up to the leader of the state. Although, there is probably some rule about ex-leaders getting such a funeral, but everyone else would be a choice thing.

Michael Ross

Note: In Aust it is Compulsory to vote or you are fined. As I consider voting a waste of time I vote for cartoon characters. And this last election I voted for, in order of Preference, Homer Simpson, Humphery B Bear, Darth Vader, Santa Clause. Of course, my vote was considered Informal.

I consider voting a waste of time for the following reasons...

Using my Seat as an example... I had Four Choices, Labor Pary (the lefties), Liberal Party (the righties), Greens (lefties in disguise), Independent.

The Left won this seat as follows..... 11,900 votes labor; 4,700 liberals, 4,300 greens, 300 independent, 372 informal.

If I was a leftist, then my voted was Not needed as She won by a mile. If I was a righty my vote was ineffectual as She lost by a mile - same wqith green and independent. So either way, the winner won whether I voted for or against. Hence, why vote as my vote matters not. And as I am Forced to vote under threat of fine, I vote for Homer Simpson. My vote is called Informal... but the outcome wasn't effected anyway. THAT is why I consider voting a waste of time.