South Australian Senator Simon Birmingham has labelled the last minute withdrawal by Environment Department officials from today’s hearings into the impact of the new means test on solar rebates as disgraceful and contemptuous. “Does Minister Garrett really have so much to hide that he needs to pull his officials from attending these hearings…
DetailsCoalition Senators think the Lower Lakes can be saved, despite the Rudd Government waving the white flag on preserving them as freshwater. Coalition Senators have issued Additional Comments to the Government-controlled majority report of a Senate committee inquiry into water management of the Lower Lakes and Coorong, released today. The most damning…
DetailsCoalition Senators have attacked as ‘chaotic, shambolic and frantic’ the Rudd Labor Government’s approach to development of a National Broadband Network (NBN), Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Coalition Senators today lodged additional comments to the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee’s report into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network) Bill 2008.…
DetailsA Senate inquiry will today hear evidence in Canberra from solar panel installers about the dramatic impact on the industry of the Rudd Government’s decision to means test the solar panel rebate scheme. The Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts today begins its inquiry into the Save Our Solar (Solar…
DetailsThe Rudd Labor Government today revealed none of its election policy statements on the proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) are core requirements under the Request for Proposals (RFP). Despite supposed policy commitments relating to a minimum 12 megabytes per second, coverage for 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses, government equity and…
DetailsThe Rudd Labor Government is bleeding an extra $150 million from taxpayers through a rise in the cost of postage, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. A one-off “special dividend” of $150 million is being paid by Australia Post in 2008-09, which according to the Budget Papers “reflects the strong financial position of Australia…
DetailsUnion officials opposed to the Rudd Government’s means test on solar rebates will be among those giving evidence today to a Senate committee inquiry into its impact, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. The hearings in Melbourne today follow those in Canberra on Friday, at which Environment Department officials responsible for the rebate program’s…
DetailsThe Rudd Labor Government’s newly announced process for selecting ABC and SBS Board members has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. The Government has based its model on the so-called “Nolan principles” used in the UK to make appointments to the Board of the British Broadcasting…
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…
Details