Department of Climate Change officials have confirmed today that a tender is underway for the purchase of a stainless steel wine cabinet to be housed in the Department’s plush new building’s executive dining room. Under questioning by Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham in Senate Estimates, Departmental Secretary Mr Blair Comley…
DetailsSouth Australian Premier Jay Weatherill should apologise for misguided remarks attacking irrigators over Murray-Darling Basin water use, Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Mr Weatherill has suggested farmers suffering stock loss and property damage as a result of any flooding associated with increased environmental flows in the Basin do not deserve compensation.…
DetailsThe Coalition welcomes the release of today’s hydrologic modelling report. We hope it will assist the state and federal governments to end the bickering and reach some agreement around this important reform. The Coalition remains committed to Murray-Darling reform that delivers a triple bottom line that considers economic, environmental and social sustainability…
DetailsThe Auditor-General should investigate the provision of hundreds of millions of dollars in Commonwealth grants for a mothballed desalination plant, Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Birmingham’s letter* to Auditor-General Ian McPhee follows the decision last week to place the $1.8 billion Adelaide Desalination Plant ‘in standby mode’ until at…
DetailsTaxpayers deserve explanations from Federal and SA Labor about the spending of both federal and state taxpayer dollars on a mothballed desalination plant, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin Simon Birmingham said today. It follows SA Water’s shock announcement today that intends to ‘mothball’ the $1.8 billion Adelaide Desalination Plant until at…
DetailsElectricity prices would be lower under a Coalition Government and without Labor’s carbon tax, an independent state regulator has confirmed today. Paul Kerin, Chief Executive Officer of the Essential Services Commission of South Australia, was commenting this morning in the wake of this week’s draft determination by the Commission on standing contract prices…
DetailsLiberal Senator Simon Birmingham is urging South Australians to photograph their favourite river location as part of a competition coinciding with World Rivers Day this month. Senator Birmingham, the Coalition’s spokesman on the Murray-Darling Basin, is proudly supporting the “Rivers Matter” initiative, created by Australian not-for-profit group the International RiverFoundation. People are…
DetailsDecisions made in the European Union will now have a direct impact on the rate of Australia’s carbon tax, as a result of the linkage announced by the Gillard Government this week. Business and economic leaders have today confirmed that the linkage means decisions made in Europe will impact how much more households…
DetailsAustralians should brace for a higher carbon tax and higher electricity prices following comments from Greens Leader Christine Milne, Acting Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Milne yesterday flagged a significantly higher carbon tax in the near future following the Government’s announcement of European linkage with…
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