The 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…
DetailsCoalition policy announced last night by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will deliver true national management of the Murray Darling Basin. “The founding fathers’ failure to provide for national governance of the Murray Darling Basin has resulted in more than a century of unsustainable pressure being placed on the system,” Coalition Murray Darling spokesman…
DetailsMelissa Parke, Member for Fremantle, and Chair of the Parliamentary Association for UNICEF, and Senator Simon Birmingham, the Association’s Deputy Chair have called on concerned Australians to donate to UNICEF’s emergency appeal in order to provide life-saving essentials for those affected by the Haitian earthquake. Donations can be made by visiting www.unicef.org.au or by…
DetailsThe New South Wales floodwaters saga highlights the need for genuine national management of the Murray Darling Basin and should be a learning experience, Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Birmingham welcomed an in-principle agreement from the New South Wales Government to release ‘reasonable’ flows downstream but said the situation…
DetailsThe Rudd Government should clarify the status of its expensive Whaling Envoy and whether he’s in for the long haul, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. It follows revelations, through Senate Budget Estimates, that the Envoy’s never-ending ’round the world mission’ of diplomatic dialogue has already cost taxpayers more than half a million dollars…
DetailsActing Prime Minister Gillard and Premiers Rann and Keneally must give Murray Darling Basin officials in-principle approval to release emergency floodwater for downstream communities today, according to Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham. The Basin Officials Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the floodwaters about to flow into the Menindee Lakes. This committee,…
DetailsPrime Minister Kevin Rudd should convene an urgent meeting of Murray-Darling Basin State Premiers to negotiate truly national management of the system, Coalition Murray Darling spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. The Rudd Government’s failure to achieve national management of Basin waters has been highlighted by New South Wales having total say on how…
DetailsThe Rudd Government’s failure to achieve national management of the Murray Darling Basin has reduced South Australian Premier Mike Rann’s influence to that of letter writing, Coalition Murray Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. South Australian Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald this morning said Premier Rann is writing to the Prime Minister…
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