A Federal Labor MP’s attempts to claim credit for driving a water plan being held up by the Rann Government were laughable, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. In his latest newsletter, Labor MP Steve Georganas says he “…has ignited State Government interest in a water plan that would provide as much as…
DetailsSenator Simon Birmingham today called for ongoing monitoring of the impact on rural and regional Australians of Telstra switching off its CDMA mobile phone network later this month. It follows today’s decision by the Communications Minister to allow closure of the network on 28 April, on the basis that Telstra had met the…
DetailsLiberal Senator Simon Birmingham has described State and Territory Labor Governments, including in his own South Australia, as “weak and gutless” for their failure to bring Victoria into line in supporting comprehensive national management of the Murray-Darling Basin. Speaking during today’s hearings of the Senate Environment Committee into the Water Bill 2007, Senator…
DetailsSenator Simon Birmingham said today the Rann Labor Government’s belated commitment for a water recycling project that will save thousands of litres of wastewater being pumped out to sea was better late than never. A multi-million dollar project for the wider reuse of water from the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant, including watering the…
DetailsKevin Rudd needs to urgently set a date for a meeting with the states on saving the Murray-Darling Basin, Senator Simon Birmingham said today Senator Birmingham said with the Murray-Darling left off of this week’s COAG meeting agenda, Mr Rudd needs to immediately set another date to bring the states into line and…
DetailsSenator Simon Birmingham wants to hear from South Australians having difficulty with the transition from the soon to be closed CDMA mobile phone network to Telstra’s Next G network. It follows Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s decision today to push back by three months to 28 April the switch off of the CDMA network.…
DetailsOn the first anniversary of the ambitious $10 billion plan to take national control of the Murray-Darling Basin, Senator Simon Birmingham has called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to get on with the job of resolving the management of the Murray before it’s too late. Senator Birmingham said the stubborn and recalcitrant approach…
DetailsToday’s announcement of a new water sharing deal for the River Murray further highlights the lack of progress in achieving long term solutions for the Murray-Darling Basin. Senator Simon Birmingham said that long term progress on the National Plan for Water Security, launched more than a year ago and blocked by Victoria’s Labor…
DetailsCommunications Minister Stephen Conroy is ignoring criticism of a UK model to be applied in relation to the selection of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Board members, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. In a scheme similar to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) board appointment process, a so-called “independent panel” is planned to provide Senator…
DetailsThe ACT Labor Government has joined calls for the Rudd Government to abolish its means test on rebates for solar panels, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. ACT Chief Minister John Stanhope has urged the means test’s removal in a strongly worded submission to a Senate committee inquiry into its impact: “No consultation…
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