A not-so-public execution

  Using the State Budget as a media shield, the South Australian Branch of the Labor Party will today execute one of their own, Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham said today.   First-term Senator Linda Kirk is set to lose her endorsement in favour of factional and union boss Don Farrell at a preselection being cynically…

Details

Waste inquiry not a waste for the environment

  Waste management will be the subject of a parliamentary inquiry, after the Senate passed a motion moved by Senator Simon Birmingham this morning.   The move comes as the federal and state governments claim to be working towards a phase-out of single-use plastic bags by 2009, but with the Rudd Government flip flopping on…

Details

Unions confirm they expect to run the show

  Unions have given further indications they expect to get their way if a Rudd Labor Government is elected, Senator Simon Birmingham said today.   It follows Kevin Rudd failing to stand up to the unions, allowing Right faction powerbroker and union heavyweight Don Farrell to be pre-selected on Thursday at first spot on the…

Details

Minister urged to put CDMA switch off on hold

  The Communications Minister must heed the concerns of regional consumers in South Australia and elsewhere and put on hold Telstra’s planned CDMA network switch off, Senator Simon Birmingham said today.   “Poor network coverage, conflicting advice from Telstra on handsets and poor levels of service are all among concerns related to me by South…

Details

Labor MP’s laughable water claims

  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…

Details

CDMA closure impact must be monitored

  Senator 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…

Details

States and Territories “gutless” on water reform

  Liberal 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…

Details

Water project matching funds better late than never

  Senator 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…

Details

Desperate and dateless on water

  Kevin 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…

Details

Next G™ connection problems? Call me.

  Senator 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.…

Details