Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National 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 the case of Mr Greg Smith of Gympie who has been left with rolls of uninstalled insulation in the roof cavity of his home and a 1.6 metre hole in the ceiling from a botched insulation job under the failed Home Insulation Program. When can Mr Smith expect to have his insulation completed and his ceiling repaired?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. As the honourable member would know, there is the opportunity for the person in question to make that complaint specifically known to the department and for the department to respond to that complaint, as it does to each and every complaint that is received under this program.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Bruce Scott interjecting

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

Order! The member for Maranoa!

Dick Adams (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Put him out.

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

The member for Lyons is now warned. The member for Maranoa knows better than he does. It is an old favourite for those that are newcomers but I think that the member for Maranoa knows what I mean and he will not do that in future.

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

Through you, Mr Speaker, I respond to the honourable member by reminding him that under the Home Insulation Program it was a requirement of installers that they meet the guidelines in question. It also was a requirement that the householder signed the order form in order to satisfy themselves that that particular job had been done in accordance with the guidelines.

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On the basis of the true relevance of this House, the member has asked the minister to answer a question relevant to his constituent’s needs and it appears that the answer is, ‘Make a phone call’. What is the use of this place?

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

The member will resume his seat.

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

Mr Speaker, on that point of order, that was a clear abuse of the standing orders in the guise of making an argument in the form of a point of order.

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

As I have said to the Leader of House, it is a judgment that the Chair has to make between whether somebody is using the standing orders to make a point of order or to interrupt proceedings. On this occasion I will indicate to the member for O’Connor that there is no point of order and that there is no power for the Chair to dictate the manner in which the minister answers the question. The minister is responding to the question.

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

The purpose of having an insulation hotline in place is to enable those who have any concerns about the quality of work, or any other matters in relation to this program, to have their concerns addressed. And that is what should happen in his instance.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Bruce Scott interjecting

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

Order! The member for Page has the call. I am not sure what the member for Maranoa is doing. Those in the right-hand corner will come to order. I can invite them all out for a cup of coffee if they like but they will come to order.