“The desperation of the Member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas MP, is on full show this week as he seeks to mislead voters in Hindmarsh,” Senator Simon Birmingham said today. “Just two weeks ago The Advertiser proclaimed ‘Libs’ vote secures Murray Victory’ following the Liberal Party’s announcement of support for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. “Yet…
DetailsKIERAN GILBERT: The Gillard Government’s performance in the opinion polls improved over the second half of this year from its low of 27 per cent back in April, steadying around the 36 per cent primary vote but not in the last Newspoll of the year. Labor’s vote has slumped to 32 per cent …
DetailsFRAN KELLY: And after more than a century of squabbling between the states, an historic deal has finally been reached to secure one of our most precious environmental assets, the Murray-Darling river. The national Plan will return up to 3,200 gigalitres tothe river system each year from 2019. TONY BURKE: Today’s the day…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (16:53): This matter of public importance has been nominated by the Australian Greens. When we look at matters of public importance sometimes we need to look at their tone at the very outset, before we get into the detail. Today we are discussing the Gillard government’s plans, at the upcoming COAG…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia) (10:12): Hell has truly frozen over in this place this morning, because we just received a lecture on economic and fiscal responsibility from the Australian Greens! The Australian Greens-the big taxing, big spending party of this parliament, who put even the Labor Party to shame with their spending habits-have just…
DetailsMICHAEL SMYTH: Now to the latest on the Murray and the news today that the Coalition has decided to back the Federal Government’s plan to better manage the river system, ensuring an extra 2750 gigalitres will be flowing downstream by 2019; more beyond that. Senator Simon Birmingham is the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the…
DetailsSIMON BIRMINGHAM: Later today, Tony Burke will address the National Press Club and, as I understand it, will outline what the final Murray-Darling Basin Plan looks like. The fact that we’re reaching a point of finality is welcome because this is a long overdue reform. It’s more than five years since the Howard Government…
DetailsLAURA JAYES: After more than a hundred years and decades of state bickering, a Plan for the Murray-Darling Basin has finally been signed into law. This is the fifth version handed down by the MurrayDarling Basin Authority and, before that [National Press Club] speech from the Environment Minister, Tony Burke, he and the Prime…
DetailsSIMON BIRMINGHAM: Well, today we have what hopefully will be an historic step in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin. I want to acknowledge that Tony Burke was generous in recognising the role that John Howard, Malcolm Turnbull and John Anderson played in the Coalition Government in getting this process underway; that in 2004…
DetailsLYNDAL CURTIS: The Federal Government has released draft legislation [Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 Exposure Draft] to consolidate Australia’s discrimination laws. The changes are designed to provide more protection and a simpler regime, although the Opposition worries about shifting the burden of proof onto the respondent and some elements of the consolidation. Both…
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