Today’s Murray-Darling ministerial meeting provides Water Minister Tony Burke with the chance to answer the many outstanding questions Labor’s mishandling of basin reform has presented. Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Senator Simon Birmingham has called on Mr Burke to seize the opportunity provided by today’s meeting in Albury to deliver newfound clarity and direction…
Details?”State Governments must urgently talk and agree to stop the reported release of water from the Snowy River while downstream rivers are in flood,” Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Snowy Hydro is apparently required by the New South Wales Office of Water, under its licence, to repay water to the system…
DetailsCoalition Senators and the Federal Nationals Leader, Warren Truss, will soon tour part of the Murray-Darling Basin in southern New South Wales. The Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Senator Barnaby Joyce; the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham; the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure…
DetailsThe Gillard Government has sunk to new lows of secrecy regarding legal advice at the centre of the crisis ridden Murray-Darling Basin reform process, Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. Water Minister Tony Burke has reportedly claimed that new legal advice provided to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will not be publicly released…
DetailsThe resignation of Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) chairman Mike Taylor has plunged the already troubled Murray-Darling reform process into a deep crisis. Mr Taylor has resigned at the worst possible time, having just concluded consultation on the Authority’s Guide to the proposed Basin Plan but before the finalisation of the actual proposed Basin…
DetailsCrows and Power fans look set to be potential losers as live coverage of games could be limited to Pay TV services under changes to broadcasting laws mooted by the Gillard Government. Reports in the Financial Review today suggest Labor is set to allow Pay TV operators to bid directly for four weekly…
DetailsA Bill to enable appropriate scrutiny of the Gillard Government’s proposed $43 National Broadband Network (NBN) has been introduced in the Senate today by Senator Simon Birmingham. Senator Birmingham represents Shadow Communications and Broadband Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the Senate, and has introduced the National Broadband Network Financial Transparency Bill 2010 following its…
DetailsThe Gillard Government’s proposed $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) is in disarray, with mounting signs of paranoia and mistrust as secrecy surrounding the project reaches new levels, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. In response to questions from Senator Birmingham, representing the Shadow Minister in the Senate, Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy today revealed…
DetailsThe Labor Government is a one trick pony on Murray-Darling Basin reform, Coalition Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. It follows today’s announcement of another round of water buybacks, for the southern part of the Basin and the Lower Balonne region of Queensland. “When in trouble Labor have returned to the only…
DetailsThe Gillard Government has today confirmed the enormous extent of its underspending from the $5.9 billion program designed to deliver water saving infrastructure, Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today. In response to questions from Senator Birmingham in Question Time today, Senator Stephen Conroy revealed the Government’s total spending to date is…
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