More jobs is our pledge on subs

Today some Members of Parliament will sign a hollow union pledge promising to advocate for “all naval ships and submarines to be designed, built and maintained in Australia”. This pledge is meaningless because it ignores the involvement of international companies that has been essential for all of Australia's recent major shipbuilding projects. The Collins Class…

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Productivity Commission to take on water reform

The Productivity Commission will take on the role of monitoring and auditing Australia’s progress in achieving water reform. “By allocating these roles to the Productivity Commission, industry and customers will benefit from the Commissions reputation for independence and expertise,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment. “The Government is confident that the Productivity…

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New water purchase round for the Queensland Lower Balonne

The Australian Government will commence a new water purchase initiative in the Queensland Condamine-Balonne catchment. “Interested license holders have until 5pm on Thursday 30 October 2014 to make an offer,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment.   “The Australian Government is committed to restoring the Murray-Darling Basin to health while ensuring the…

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Urban development in south-east Melbourne will protect bandicoots

Approval for urban development to occur in Melbourne’s south-eastern growth corridor has been announced today. Melbourne’s south-eastern growth corridor is one of the four urban development areas in the Victorian Government program Delivering Melbourne’s Newest Sustainable Communities. This program will lead to over 350,000 new households supporting one million people, 15 major town centres, 85…

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Murtho salt scheme reduces River Murray salinity

A salt interception scheme designed to stop about 36,000 tonnes of salt from entering the River Murray has been launched in South Australia today. Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, and South Australian Minister for Water and the River Murray, Ian Hunter, today announced the completion of the Murtho Salt Interception Scheme,…

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Cross-border project opens up river to native fish

A 2000km project designed to help native fish species travel up the River Murray has been launched at Waikerie today. Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, and South Australian Minister for Water and the River Murray, Ian Hunter, today officially launched the Sea to Hume fishway program near Waikerie in South Australia’s…

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New Lake Merreti infrastructure to benefit wetlands, floodplains and weir pools

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, and South Australian Minister for Water and the River Murray, Ian Hunter, officially launched a regulator at South Australia’s Lake Merreti, which is part of the Riverland site – a wetland of International importance under the Ramsar Convention. The regulator and other surface water infrastructure is…

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