Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, will be leading a delegation of Australian Water Businesses to California for the California-Australia Drought Dialogue, to support Australian business and export development opportunities.
Senator Birmingham will be a key speaker at a high level drought and water management roundtable being organised by the Governor Brown of California, which will focus on the $7.5 billion water bond recently passed at plebiscite for new water and drought projects.
“Much of this money will be allocated by government departments and water utilities and I will be joining a number of Australian company executives at business meetings in Los Angeles and Sacramento to explore these opportunities further,” said Senator Simon Birmingham.
“As a result of our own experience of droughts Australia has developed world leading water expertise, which are businesses well positioned to capitalise on.
“Australia’s expertise in water resource management is recognised around the world and this will be a chance to position Australia as an expert on water management and pursue the potential business opportunities that might flow from this,” he said.
In addition, at a specially convened drought conference, the Senator will be delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Australian Government to 200 Californian water companies, policy makers and regulators, including high level meetings with the Californian Governor and his senior advisors.
This presentation will outline Australia’s experience at managing drought and our national water policy successes.
The Senator will be also speaking to the California Chamber of Commerce about growing trade and investment links between Australia and the state in a variety of sectors.