The Rudd Labor Government has broken its promise to give urgent attention to a major Port Pirie water recycling proposal, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. The project is expected to reduce Port Pirie’s reliance on the River Murray by 60 per cent, yet Water Minister Penny Wong was unable to answer even basic…
The Rudd Labor Government has attempted to avoid scrutiny in relation to the level of urgency being shown in addressing the health of the Lower Lakes, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. At Senate Budget Estimates, Senator Birmingham asked about the length of time being taken to start rolling out $10 million in funding…
Three grants to surf life saving clubs for rainwater tanks after more than 18 months represents a monumental failure by the Rudd Government to honour an election promise, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. This program began as a very significant commitment during the campaign: Anthony Albanese and Peter Garrett announced that a…
Senator Simon Birmingham has attacked the Rudd Labor Government for cutting funds to a key arm of Tourism Australia and says the effects are already being felt. Tourism Australia has confirmed, through Senate Estimates, that the budget for Business Events Australia was cut by more than $600,000 more than 10 per cent…
(Presenter: Well my next guest thinks the Rudd Government has a pretty loose definition of urgent because 18 months ago, Anthony Albanese was then Opposition water spokesperson, promised to give urgent attention to a proposal for a water recycling project in Port Pirie. Well now he’s in Government and nothing has happened. Now that…
Television coverage for Kimba and surrounding areas was high on the agenda of Senate estimates hearings last week, with Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham pursuing the broadcast boundaries that cause the Kimba area to receive Imparja ahead of local Southern Cross GTS/BKN television. Senator Birmingham pursued the issue at hearings with the Australian Communications…
Environment Minister Peter Garrett has decided that he should attend the meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Portugal next month instead of his much touted Whaling Envoy, Sandy Hollway, it was revealed today. Questioning in Senate Estimates today revealed that despite spending more than $309,106.36 for Mr Hollway’s fees and travel costs,…
Supposed extra funding for SBS might be little more than an accounting trick, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. The Rudd Government claimed in its recent budget that it was allocating additional funding of $20 million over three years to SBS. However, in Senate Budget Estimates today it was revealed that the Government…
$325 million promised by Labor for regional communications has vanished from the budget, leaving regional Australia with little hope of seeing improved services, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Under questioning in Senate Budget Estimates today it was revealed that of the $400 million interest earned by the former Communications Fund and promised…
(Cameron: … Environment Minister, Peter Garrett … from their perspective it’s okay for the State Government to go ahead and build regulators around the Goolwa Channel without conducting an Environmental Impact Statement … a lot of people are concerned that there is no Environmental Impact Statement going ahead …your perspective on the decision by…