Multi-million dollar ‘green tape’ bill

  The high costs of environmental regulation – and of Labor’s rejection of potential savings through streamlining – have been highlighted in Senate Estimates hearings, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today.   Under questioning from Senator Birmingham, officials at the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities have detailed that:…

Labor’s budgeting chaos abandons Antarctica

  Labor’s chaotic budget fails to provide for the transport needed to maintain Australia’s Antarctic program, officials have confirmed in Senate Budget Estimates hearings.   Under questioning from Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham, officials in the Australian Antarctic Division of the Environment department confirmed that: They will need a new ship by…

Basin reform stagnating under Labor

  Murray-Darling Basin reform has slowed to a snail’s pace under Labor, according to evidence given in Senate Estimates today under questioning from Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham.   Officials have today confirmed that the Gillard Government: ·         still hasn’t signed off on an Intergovernmental Agreement with Basin states, despite more than 25 drafts having…

MPI – Climate Change

Senator BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (16:25): I thank the Greens for the opportunity to speak to this matter of public importance and note the fact that in doing so the Greens have highlighted another Labor broken promise. I am pleased that the Greens have done so. There are a number of ways in which they and their…