The Gillard Government was already dealing with 200 claims for compensation over its Green Loans Program prior to this week announcing its replacement program would not proceed, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today. The figure has been revealed in an answer to a question taken on notice by the…
Secret advice revealed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) under Freedom of Information laws shows that Government-imposed delays mean timelines required under the Water Act for finalisation of the controversial Basin Plan cannot be achieved. The Incoming Minister’s Brief provided by the MDBA to Water Minister Tony Burke following his appointment in September…
In a further embarrassment highlighting Julia Gillard’s program chaos, the Federal Government has today announced it is scrapping yet another one of its key environmental schemes. It continues a pattern of disaster and mismanagement in the environment portfolio. We’ve had the collapse of the Home Insulation Program, the demise of the Green…
Water Minister Tony Burke has today failed to address the confusion surrounding the crisis ridden Murray-Darling Basin reform process, Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Murray-Darling Basin Water Ministers today met in Albury and have issued a communiqué stating they have “agreed to support a new process for the Basin Plan going…
The Gillard Government has been sitting on warnings that the crisis ridden Murray-Darling Basin Plan under development could increase the risk of flooding, documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal. Documents provided to Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham include briefing notes about the risk of flooding particularly in rural areas under…
ELIZABETH JACKSON: With many communities still dealing with the damage from widespread flooding, the Federal Opposition has accused the Government of failing to reveal warnings that its plan to put more water back into the Murray-Darling river system could increase the risk of flooding. A document the Coalition has obtained under Freedom of…
Today’s Murray-Darling ministerial meeting provides Water Minister Tony Burke with the chance to answer the many outstanding questions Labor’s mishandling of basin reform has presented. Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Senator Simon Birmingham has called on Mr Burke to seize the opportunity provided by today’s meeting in Albury to deliver newfound clarity and direction…
?”State Governments must urgently talk and agree to stop the reported release of water from the Snowy River while downstream rivers are in flood,” Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Snowy Hydro is apparently required by the New South Wales Office of Water, under its licence, to repay water to the system…
Coalition Senators and the Federal Nationals Leader, Warren Truss, will soon tour part of the Murray-Darling Basin in southern New South Wales. The Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Senator Barnaby Joyce; the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham; the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure…
WILL GOODINGS: … someone with quite strong opinions on this matter and others is Senator Simon Birmingham for South Australia. Senator, welcome to the program. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: G’day, Will, pleasure to be here. WILL GOODINGS: Simon, can you tell us your reaction to Mike Taylor stepping aside. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Well, look, I feel very…