The countdown to Labor’s costly carbon tax bureaucracy gets serious this Christmas, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today. “When Australians rest their heads on their pillows this Christmas Eve, it will be one sleep to their last Christmas before the carbon tax and just 100 sleeps to the start…
Australians will face higher state taxes and/or service cuts as a direct result of the carbon tax, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today. It follows revelations from South Australian Labor Treasurer Jack Snelling about the extent of the financial impact on the state budget’s bottom line. “We expect…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (20:50): It is a pleasure to follow Senator Boswell in this debate on the second reading of the Steel Transformation Plan Bill 2011. He makes so many valid arguments about what the government are up to with this bill and about its potential impacts. It is nothing more than a tricky little tactic…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (13:43): At the outset may I concur with Senator Mason and congratulate Senator Furner on a very wise and appropriate speech on an important subject matter. But I rise to offer some advice to the Prime Minister. My advice is: never let Senator Conroy near a tender process! Senator Conroy has a track…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (12:28): I rise to speak on Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 and the Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011, and I do so having had, I think, a track record in my few years in this place of expressing reservations where appropriate about proposals that governments introduce that increase the nanny-state…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (12:05): As always, it is a pleasure to follow Senator Bushby, who makes arguments in this place that are well considered, well constructed and really do highlight very sensible points of concern about legislation that comes before this chamber. It is disappointing that in this debate on the Parliamentary Service Amendment (Parliamentary Budget…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (11:29): It is good to follow Senator Back, who is very knowledgeable in these areas and has highlighted particularly some of the local concerns about the impact of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011 and of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which Senator Colbeck is seeking…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (11:22). Bad policy is always bad policy. That is why political parties who are true to their convictions should stand against bad policy from opposition and be willing to replace it with good policy in government. The Clean Energy Bill 2011 and related bills represent bad policy. That is why the Liberal and…
KIERAN GILBERT: With me now, I’ve got Labor frontbencher Senator Kate Lundy and Liberal frontbencher Senator Simon Birmingham. Good morning to you both. KATE LUNDY: Good morning. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Good morning, Kieran, Kate. KIERAN GILBERT: I want to ask you, first of all, Senator Lundy… I want to ask, you first…
Labor and the Greens have today again shown they’re not serious about listening to Murray-Darling Basin communities about the proposed Basin Plan, Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Birmingham today attended today’s Murray-Darling Basin Authority public meeting in Murray Bridge, as did fellow federal Liberal MPs Patrick Secker, Jamie Briggs and…