LEON BYNER: Since our electricity was privatised about ten years ago, prices went up so we could have competition that would put them down again. Building in renewable energy targets for so called ‘green energy’ was expensive compared to coal. It forced the price up. The subsidising of solar panels hasn’t really been the…
A drip feed of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s draft Basin Plan is in conflict with its stated need for secrecy just a year ago, Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Despite the long overdue proposed Basin Plan having been scheduled now for release on 28 November, reports in recent weeks indicate several…
Australians have just 40 sleeps to Christmas and another 99 sleeps to the start of their new bureaucracy under Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today. The Gillard Government today announced its Clean Energy Regulator will begin operations on 2 April 2012. “Labor has today…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: I’ll just make two quick points on two important issues. Firstly, we read today that the Government is planning an advertising campaign to sell their carbon tax. Well, quite frankly, Australians are going to end up paying more than enough for this carbon tax, Australians are going to have to work harder…
LUKE GRANT: One of the Opposition Senators who tried to stop this going through today is Senator Simon Birmingham who joins us on the line. Afternoon, Senator. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Good afternoon, Luke, and good afternoon to your listeners. LUKE GRANT: Now, give us a sense of where things were this morning. It’s…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Thanks, Eric [Abetz], and thanks, Greg [Hunt]. There is nothing to celebrate today; there is much to condemn today. There is, of course, the broken promise of the past to condemn today but, more importantly for Australians, there are the outcomes for the future to condemn today. Those outcomes will see…
LEON BYNER: Simon Birmingham, the deal’s done; the Greens are cracking the Champagne. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Indeed they are, Leon. The Greens were in the Chamber just a few minutes ago when the carbon tax passed. They are like the cat that got the cream and of course they have done so at the expense…
GRANT GOLDMAN: … Now, the Coalition has moved to limit electricity price rises in the face of this new legislation. If the carbon tax passes today they say the Prime Minister should do the honourable thing and not gazette the legislation and immediately call an election so that Australians can actually finally have their…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: During last year’s election, Wayne Swan described claims that there would be a carbon tax under a re-elected Labor Government as hysteria. Well, today that hysteria comes to reality. Those hysterical claims will actually see the Labor Government legislate a carbon tax a carbon tax that will have profound impacts across…
KIERAN GILBERT: With me now, Liberal frontbencher Senator Simon Birmingham and Labor MP Andrew Leigh. Gentlemen, good morning to you both. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Morning, Kieran, Andrew. … KIERAN GILBERT: Andrew, the Access Economics [Deloitte Access Economics] report… you’re an economist, I want to get your thoughts on this straight away… the Deloitte…