Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. I refer the minister to these invoices issued to my constituent, a ceiling insulation installer, by the nearest cellulose insulation manufacturer, which is located in the Prime Minister’s electorate. The invoices are dated 10 weeks apart—on 15 July and 23 September this year. Minister, in July, insulation bags wholesaled at $19 per bag. Just 10 weeks later, on 19 September, they were $32 a bag. That is an inflation rate—just a touch outside the RBA target range!—of 317 per cent per annum. Minister, is my constituent living in a banana republic, or has the government stimulus package overheated the ceiling insulation sector to the point where gouging and profiteering is costing Australian taxpayers millions of dollars without a single extra batt being installed?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! A question has been asked. The minister has approached the dispatch box for the call to give the answer. He will be heard in silence.

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member opposite is more familiar with the details of invoices than I am. I thank him for his question and I point out that under this particular program that the government is rolling out there are specific guideline requirements that installers are required to sign up to as a consequence of being able to install insulation under this program. It is the case that we have a significantly enhanced robust monitoring compliance regime in place. We have a series of specific audit requirements to make sure that if there are any issues in relation to price differences that show up in the invoices that are produced they are followed up by the department and by the particular audit agencies that are responsible—in this case, PricewaterhouseCoopers, who have been independently commissioned to do this work.

I make the point that, if there are anomalies in pricing in relation to this program, my department wants to know about them and they will be followed up. We specifically added to the compliance requirements of this scheme by providing a pricing guide that specifically identifies the range within which invoices should actually be identified and delivered according to the amount of ceiling space. If there are instances of figures that go outside of that pricing guide they automatically trigger the audit and compliance regime that is in place and the particular matter in question is followed up specifically by my department.

The fact is that this is one of the most successful energy efficiency programs that we have ever seen in this country. We now have over 450,000 Australian households that have taken the benefit of ceiling insulation, but, if there are any issues around compliance and any issues around overcharging, they will be dealt with. I will refer that matter, and the matter that the member has raised with me, to my department.

Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the ‘Bowman banana republic’ invoices.

Leave not granted.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Danby interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The member for Melbourne Ports simply ain’t helping, I just say. I think that may be a lesson for members—if they genuinely want documents tabled, they should do it without adding argument to the way in which they do it.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Take a Bex!

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the member for Paterson’s comment was referring to me it is regrettable.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was to the other side.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Albanese interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have enough problems protecting myself, Leader of the House. But, no, it would not be for ‘precious petals’ very much—the required way of addressing people.

Andrew Laming (Bowman, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the invoices.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members—One said ‘yes’ and one said ‘no’.

Leave granted.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Don’t stretch your luck.