World Meteorological Day

The outstanding contribution of the weather forecasters to the community is recognised today as the Bureau of Meteorology marks World Meteorological Day. “Awards for innovation, excellence and strategic alliance were acknowledged, along with the Bureau of Meteorology as one of the oldest and most valued Australian Government agencies, operating since 1908.  “Individuals and teams across…

Greater certainty for water trade

The Australian Government today announced amendments to financial regulations to allow for the common sense treatment of the trade of water rights, commonly traded on Australian water markets, so they are able to be regulated in the same manner as agricultural commodities.  Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Senator Simon Birmingham said the amendments to regulations…

10 million for research to support the Basin

The Australian Government has announced $10 million for research funding to support improved environmental water use in the Murray-Darling Basin.  “This collaborative research project will be coordinated regionally by the Wodonga and Mildura based Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre’s, which will be undertaken with other research organisations and government agencies working in the Basin,” Parliamentary Secretary…

States Agree to Implement Murray-Darling Basin Water Reform

The Australian Government has completed an agreement which brings all jurisdictions together to implement the historic Murray-Darling Basin Plan for water reform. The Premiers of NSW and Queensland have this week signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin and an amended National Partnership Agreement (NPA). A commitment to cap…

$85 million to improve water quality in the Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Government has signed an agreement with the Australian Capital Territory that will see up to $85 million of Australian Government funds available to help clean up Canberra’s lakes and waterways. Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, and ACT Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, announced the completion of…

The Coalition Government’s Plan to Repeal the Carbon Tax and Tackle Climate Change

Paper to the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) President’s Summit 17 February 2014 Perth    Thank you, Darren, for your introduction and to the UDIA (Urban Development Institute of Australia) for the invitation to speak here today.  I bring sincere apologies from Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment. Greg was genuinely looking forward to addressing…

AM Agenda, Sky News – Toyota; Royal Commission into trade union governance and corruption; jobs

KIERAN GILBERT: With me this morning, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite, and the parliamentary secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham. Senator Birmingham, first to you… you know, as a person from Adelaide, the importance of the car industry and today’s a sad day, isn’t it, because it basically marks, or…