Signatures on an agreement won’t be enough to save the dying River Murray, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. First Ministers are expected to sign an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for Murray-Darling Basin Reform at today’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Sydney. “The easy task for First Ministers is to sign the…
DetailsThe Rudd Government is refusing to take the Australian people into its confidence in relation to the Lower Lakes and Coorong, even defying a Senate order to do so, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. The Senate yesterday passed a ‘return to order’ for Water Minister Penny Wong to disclose the emergency advice she…
DetailsSenator Simon Birmingham has called for the withdrawal of a promotion offending many ABC television viewers and for a review of ABC policies relating to such promotions. Last night, the ABC aired on television a promotion encouraging its audience to vote for ABC identities nominated for the TV WEEK Gold Logie for “most…
DetailsSydney today plays host to a Senate Committee inquiring into the management of Australia’s waste streams. Today’s is the third of four public hearings in four different cities being held as part of an inquiry initiated by South Australian Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham with a wide brief to examine how Australia…
DetailsThe Rudd Government continues to avoid taking immediate steps to provide immediate assistance to the Coorong and Lower Lakes, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. “Today’s announcement of a tender to purchase water entitlements in Queensland and northern New South Wales is welcome, but it will do little to address the immediate needs of…
Details“Labor’s secret agenda to rig the political donations and disclosure system to give them an unfair political advantage has been exposed today,” Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Birmingham is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters which today heard evidence as part of its inquiry into Labor’s plans to…
Details“Kevin Rudd, Penny Wong, Mike Rann and Karlene Maywald must either release emergency flows for the Lower Lakes or tell South Australians in clear and simple terms why they can’t,” Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Birmingham joined Independent Senator Nick Xenophon at a forum hosted by the Alexandrina Council in Goolwa today…
DetailsEnvironment Minister Peter Garrett has cynically approved a pipeline allowing Victoria to rip more water out of the Murray before a relevant Parliamentary Committee reports, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. “In approving the north-south pipeline, Mr Garrett has today put water for Melbourne ahead of water for the Murray,” Senator Birmingham said today.…
DetailsCoalition Senators have stated their opposition to a Bill enabling the Rudd Government to raid the $2 billion regional Communications Fund in order to fund its election promise of an ill-defined National Broadband Network, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Coalition Senators have issued a dissenting report on the inquiry by the Senate Standing…
DetailsSenator Simon Birmingham has accused Environment Minister Peter Garrett of stalling in a bid to avoid scrutiny over the impact of the Rudd Government’s new means test on solar rebates. It follows confirmation Mr Garrett instructed his Department to pull out of appearing at today’s Senate Committee first hearings into the impact of…
Details