Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for O’Connor for his question, as he raises the legitimate interests of a firm which has been affected by the government’s decision to cancel the Home Insulation Program. I would also, in response to the member for O’Connor’s question, draw his attention to the contents of the answer that I delivered earlier to the member for Fadden and referred to also in my answer to the member for La Trobe.

The second point I would make to the member for O’Connor is that he refers to, I am sure, a good firm that has been in the business, I think he said, for 16 years—is that correct? This program, the Home Insulation Program, has been in existence for about one year prior to its cancellation. So I would simply draw the honourable member’s attention to the fact that what has happened with that particular program, and the one which is envisaged to be introduced by 1 June this year, represents significant enhancements to the pre-existing business flows of firms which existed within this industry.

I can also say in response to the honourable member’s question that the normal provisions of Australia’s industrial relations law will prevail in the case of each firm under these circumstances. But I draw his attention in particular to those provisions which are contained in the government’s insulation worker adjustment package, which I outlined earlier today.

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