Vocational education and training (VET) students and employers now have a simple new complaints hotline to report rogue training providers. Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham said that while the vast majority of providers were doing the right thing, a minority were ripping off students, employers and taxpayers. “Unfortunately we have seen…
I thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve as the Assistant Minister for Education and Training. I particularly look forward to delivering effective policies in vocational education, apprenticeships and training, while working with Christopher Pyne to help drive needed modernisation from pre-school through to higher education. Training is an essential link between individuals…
The Australian Government today tabled the report on the Review of the Water Act 2007. Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, welcomed the report from the expert panel, which sets out their findings and recommendations. Senator Birmingham thanked the members of the expert panel – Mr Eamonn Moran, PSM QC (Chair), Mr Peter Anderson,…
Commonwealth Government legislation comes into effect today that transfers to the ACT Government responsibility for all water abstraction in the ACT. “The ACT Water Management Legislation is an example of one of the many ways in which our Government is improving governance of water within the Murray-Darling Basin,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary of…
A new stormwater harvesting and reuse project in Adelaide will save more than 500 million litres of Adelaide’s drinking quality water per year. Through the construction of significant infrastructure, including 23 kilometres of mains pipelines, Waterproofing the West – Stage One will use treated stormwater to irrigate parks and gardens in the City of Charles…
The long-term strategy to guide watering activities across the Murray–Darling Basin is being released today. The Basin-wide Watering Strategy is one of the key pieces of work to be completed as part of the implementation of the Basin Plan. The Australian Government has committed to implementing the Basin Plan in full and on time. “It…
The Australian Government is delivering on its election commitment to improve the health of the River Torrens with a $1 million injection of funding under the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. Federal Environment Parliamentary Secretary and Senator for South Australia, Simon Birmingham, today officially launched the River Torrens Recovery Programme, saying the funding will be…
The annual progress report on the constraints management strategy has been released today, pointing the way forward to the next phase of this important part of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. “Local information provided by basin communities form the backbone of the report’s findings,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment. “The good work…
The Australian Government today announced an independent review of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme and its Water Efficiency and Labelling Standards (WELS) Act (2005) and other associated legislation. Due to report in June 2015, the review will pay particular attention to identifying opportunities to simplify red tape and regulatory requirements placed on…
Federal Environment Parliamentary Secretary Senator Simon Birmingham and South Australian Water and River Murray Minister Ian Hunter have announced the decision to start dredging the Murray Mouth to remove sand build-up. “It's vital that the Mouth remains open to keep the ecosystems in the Coorong healthy, as well as maintain connectivity between the River Murray,…