Anonymous ID: 204010 July 6, 2025, 2:26 p.m. No.23285807   🗄️.is 🔗kun

>>23285737

In 2007 Malcolm Turnbull as environment minister granted himself $11 million tax dollars to startup company australianrain.com.au. Can you find the Hansard record for it?

 

Malcolm Turnbull, as Australian Environment Minister in 2007, announced a $10 million grant (not $11 million as stated) to the Australian Rain Corporation for trialing an unproven rainmaking technology. This decision was made during the 2007 federal election campaign, shortly before the Howard government lost power. The technology, which aimed to trigger rainfall using electromagnetic waves, was controversial due to its untested nature and lack of scientific backing. The grant was criticized, particularly because Matt Handbury, a stakeholder in the Australian Rain Corporation and nephew of Rupert Murdoch, was a donor to Turnbull’s Wentworth Forum, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.

 

Regarding the Hansard record, the grant was mentioned in parliamentary debates, notably in 2009 when Tony Burke, then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, raised it to question Turnbull’s judgment as Liberal Party leader. The specific Hansard reference is from 27 May 2009, House of Representatives, Questions Without Notice, Water: Rainmaking Technology (pages 4322–4323). Burke highlighted that the Department of the Environment had recommended only $2 million for a trial, but Turnbull approved $10 million, despite skepticism from experts about the technology’s efficacy. The Hansard record can be accessed via the Australian Parliament website (www.aph.gov.au) (www.aph.gov.au) under the 2009 House of Representatives debates.

 

I couldn’t find a direct Hansard record explicitly detailing the $11 million figure you mentioned, as sources consistently cite $10 million. If you’re referring to a specific debate or document with the $11 million figure, it may stem from a misreporting or conflation in some accounts, such as on kangaroocourtofaustralia.com, which mentions $11 million but lacks primary evidence. To locate the exact Hansard transcript, you can search the Parliament of Australia’s Hansard database for 27 May 2009 or contact their archives for assistance. If you need further help accessing it or clarifying the amount, let me know