Gillard Government warned of Basin Plan flood risk

  The Gillard Government has been sitting on warnings that the crisis ridden Murray-Darling Basin Plan under development could increase the risk of flooding, documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal.   Documents provided to Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham include briefing notes about the risk of flooding particularly in rural areas under…

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Today is your chance to provide answers, Tony Burke

  Today’s Murray-Darling ministerial meeting provides Water Minister Tony Burke with the chance to answer the many outstanding questions Labor’s mishandling of basin reform has presented.   Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Senator Simon Birmingham has called on Mr Burke to seize the opportunity provided by today’s meeting in Albury to deliver newfound clarity and direction…

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Common Sense Needed on Snowy

  ?”State Governments must urgently talk and agree to stop the reported release of water from the Snowy River while downstream rivers are in flood,” Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Snowy Hydro is apparently required by the New South Wales Office of Water, under its licence, to repay water to the system…

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Joyce-Birmingham-Truss-Nash – Listening tour of Murray-Darling Basin

  Coalition Senators and the Federal Nationals Leader, Warren Truss, will soon tour part of the Murray-Darling Basin in southern New South Wales.   The Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Senator Barnaby Joyce; the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham; the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure…

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Resignation plunges Murray-Darling reform into crisis

  The resignation of Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) chairman Mike Taylor has plunged the already troubled Murray-Darling reform process into a deep crisis.   Mr Taylor has resigned at the worst possible time, having just concluded consultation on the Authority’s Guide to the proposed Basin Plan but before the finalisation of the actual proposed Basin…

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Bill seeks the scrutiny a $43 billion investment is worth

  A Bill to enable appropriate scrutiny of the Gillard Government’s proposed $43 National Broadband Network (NBN) has been introduced in the Senate today by Senator Simon Birmingham.   Senator Birmingham represents Shadow Communications and Broadband Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the Senate, and has introduced the National Broadband Network Financial Transparency Bill 2010 following its…

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Why would taxpayers trust Conroy if Wong doesn’t?

  The Gillard Government’s proposed $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) is in disarray, with mounting signs of paranoia and mistrust as secrecy surrounding the project reaches new levels, Senator Simon Birmingham said today.   In response to questions from Senator Birmingham, representing the Shadow Minister in the Senate, Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy today revealed…

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