Claims to have achieved national management of the Murray Darling Basin have been exposed as little more than a sham under questioning in Senate Estimates, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Department officials, under questioning from Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham, have confirmed overnight that the New South Wales Government retains a veto…
DetailsA key election promise of thousands of loans for environmentally friendly home improvements has been disappearing before our very eyes, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Revelations of appallingly low take up rates have been made in Senate Additional Budget Estimates under questioning from Senator Birmingham, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action. “Labor…
DetailsThe Rudd Government is living in an alternate universe, spending millions of taxpayer dollars recruiting ever more staff to manage its twice defeated emissions trading scheme (ETS), Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Revelations in relation to wasteful hiring practices have been made at Senate Additional Estimates overnight under questioning from Senator Birmingham, Shadow…
DetailsThe Government’s proposed emissions trading scheme is so confusing that even Mr Rudd and his Government’s Leader in the Senate can’t explain its impact nearly nine months after the legislation’s introduction, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action Simon Birmingham said today. Asked yesterday by Senator Birmingham how many Australian families will be worse…
DetailsThe arrogance of the Rudd Labor Government has been on display, with the Government’s Leader in the Senate today suggesting the cost impacts of its proposed massive new tax on everything was not a relevant matter for Question Time. The comment from Senator Chris Evans came in response to a question from Senator…
DetailsThe Rudd Government is refusing to answer key Estimates questions relating to water policy, Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. “The Government’s failure to answer key questions makes a mockery of the Senate Estimates process, usually one of the more effective means of accountability,” Senator Birmingham said. The October round…
DetailsWater Minister Penny Wong should make clear how she would vote in a Murray Darling Basin referendum, Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. A Coalition Government will call a referendum to refer powers necessary for effective, independent management of the Basin’s water resources, should the States remain unwilling to do so…
DetailsThe Lower Murray is being denied further additional flows out of New South Wales thanks to ongoing delays in promised infrastructure works, Coalition Murray Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. “The relief that additional flows announced over the last 24 hours will bring to the Lower Lakes and other parts is welcome,…
DetailsKevin Rudd’s so-called historic agreement on national management of the Murray Darling Basin has left the States with too much control, Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. “An analysis of the agreement reveals just how much power remains vested in the individual Basin States, and highlights the need for true national…
DetailsWater Minister Penny Wong has today refused to indicate satisfaction with her Government’s current flawed deal governing management of the Murray Darling Basin. The refusal came in an interview on Adelaide radio, following Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s policy announcement last night to deliver true national management of the Basin. Senator Birmingham: “…is…
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