Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, in writing, on 16 August 2011:

In respect of the Government's insulation inspection and remediation program, how many inspections have been carried out under the program to date, and how many (a) 'safety-related' payments have been made under the program, (b) problems were identified as 'non-safety', and what was the average estimated cost to individual households to rectify these problems, and (c) problems were identified as 'pre-existing'.

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

The Australian Government has undertaken safety inspections in over 232,000 homes fitted with insulation under the Home Insulation Program (HIP), as at 31 July 2011.

Inspections and rectification of HIP related safety issues are completed at no cost to the householder.

There have been approximately 24,000 claims for reimbursements made by householders under Stage One of the Foil Insulation Safety Program (Interim FISP). Interim FISP ran from 10 February 2010 to 5 July 2010.

There have been 23,666 non-foil households identified as having pre-existing (that is non-HIP) related safety issues. These issues have been referred to the householder for action.

The cost of rectifying these pre-existing issues is unknown to the Department and is outside the scope of the Home Insulation Safety Program.

On 20 April 2011, I made a policy committment to continue to notify householders of pre-existing safety issues so they are able to make an informed decision regarding rectification at their own cost.