Thanks so much Will, Al is a pretty tough act to follow its nice to be able to stand here and have all the water on planet earth in one hand; it’s great to be able to accomplish that feat, so thanks for leaving the water up here for me to play with. Boys and…
Paper to the 9th Annual Water Symposium, Sydney 27 February 2014 THE VALUE OF HAVING A VALUE How reforms giving value and tradability to water have delivered benefits to Australia Thank you very much Rod, it's a pleasure to be here. I’ll begin by thanking the organisers for hosting this very important event.…
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…
Senator Birmingham: (South Australia—Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment) (21:50): Tonight I wish to draw attention to some significant developments and advancements in our government's progress and commitment to see the Murray-Darling Basin Plan implemented in full, on time and done so in a manner that ensures our irrigation communities continue to be…
Senator BIRMINGHAM:(South Australia) (11:09): The Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2013 has been brought to the chamber unexpectedly today in a way that demonstrates the ongoing chaos that exists in the government's ranks, the ongoing chaos that exists in the government's legislative program and the chaos they are now extending to the treatment of this…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (16:25): I thank the Greens for the opportunity to speak to this matter of public importance and note the fact that in doing so the Greens have highlighted another Labor broken promise. I am pleased that the Greens have done so. There are a number of ways in which they and their…
Senator BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (12:43): I rise to speak on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013, which the government has just rushed into the Senate chamber. It is noteworthy that the Senate committee report on this bill was only concluded and tabled this morning, but this of course is symptomatic of a…
SENATOR BRIMINGHAM: (South Australia) (10:11): I will start by doing something a little unusual in this place, and that is to agree with some of the sentiments of Senator Cameron. It will do your reputation no good, I realise, Senator Cameron. But Senator Cameron rightly said that he believes every senator in this place cares…
SENATOR BRIMINGHAM: (South Australia) (15:41): I move: That the Senate notes Labor’s relentless attacks on free speech. I begin this debate on the coalition’s motion on free speech by reflecting on the fact that we have a government in Australia at present with many addictions. The Labor Party have many, many addictions indeed. The modern…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (18:01): I, too, join this debate to take note of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin. I will be keeping my remarks relatively brief, but I congratulate the members of that committee led by Senator Heffernan, all of those who…