SIMON BIRMINGHAM: This is a classic re-announcement timed to coincide with the Victorian state election. This $1 billion was first announced in July 2008 by Kevin Rudd, and here we have Julia Gillard and John Brumby fronting up and re-announcing it now, just weeks away from the Victorian state poll. That makes me pretty…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Four years ago today John Howard convened an urgent meeting of Premiers and Chief Ministers to talk about Murray-Darling Basin reform. In that time, we’ve seen legislation passed, $10 billion put on the table. But that all happened within the first 12 months. Since then, we’ve seen the process slowly but surely fall apart. Delay…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Today the Murray-Darling Basin Association [Authority] goes to Narrabri. Tomorrow they go to Moree and St George. The Coalition would like to make an offer. We want to offer Tony Burke a pair, so that he can attend one of these community consultation sessions about this important reform process. This process is too…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: For 12 days now Tony Burke has been the missing man of the Murray-Darling. Today we learn that he’s finally, tonight, going to meet with some irrigator and industry groups. We’ve got to ask the question, where has he been for these 12 days? Why hasn’t he been out there talking to the communities…
MARIUS BENSON: Simon Birmingham, has the Government done the right thing by announcing this Parliamentary committee to be headed by Tony Windsor to look at the human impact of cuts in water supplies in the basin to residents in the Basin? SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Well any type of Parliamentary oversight involvement is always welcome,…
DAVID SPEERS: As we mentioned earlier, the Government is, well, starting to react to the growing anger from farmers and local regional communities to the Guide to the first draft of the Murray-Darling Plan. Simon Crean, the Minister for Regional Australia, says he understands those concerns, particularly for those who think that the impact on…
SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Tony Burke has become the missing man of Murray-Darling Basin reform. He’s not showing up to communities to engage in the consultation process. In stead, he’s leaving it to public servants to front angry and aggrieved people whose futures are on the line. Equally, Tony Burke and the Labor Government now appear to…
LEON BYNER: … Simon Birmingham, who is the Coalition’s representative, he’s their Opposition spokesman on the Murray River… he’s taken it upon himself to go to these consultations and just see what the difference is going to be between the Draft Plan, that is not a done deal according to the Minister, and what…
MARY GOODE: … The Coalition is also worried about the effects in rural Australia. Its spokesperson on the Murray-Darling Basin is Senator Simon Birmingham. SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Look, we want to work with Government, communities, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, everybody to ensure that we get win-win outcomes and a win-win outcome is a sustainable river with…
LEON BYNER: … I’ve got in the studio Nick Xenophon and Simon Birmingham, your [Tony Burke’s] opposite. We’ll start with Nick. Nick, do you feel somehow confident of what you’re hearing this morning from Minister Burke? … LEON BYNER: Simon Birmingham? SIMON BIRMINGHAM: Leon, look, I don’t have quite so many problems with the…