David Feeney (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to take note of the answers given by Senator Arbib. The issue at hand is the terminated Home Insulation Program. It is, of course, not surprising that the opposition would seek to make hay out of this issue. But those of us on this side understand two things: firstly, we understand that it was part of a broader and, as history now demonstrates, tremendously successful stimulus program. I will return to that. The second is that, as this program unfolded and after several amendments and changes by the government, the program was terminated and the government is taking responsibility for fixing those problems and for dealing with the issues that have arisen from the Home Insulation Program.

After the program was first introduced, 140,000 households a month were having home insulation installed—twice the monthly average that had existed hitherto. It was a dramatically popular and successful scheme in terms of rolling materials out into the community and in terms of generating economic activity. You will remember, Deputy President, that the whole scheme was designed in a period of economic crisis. It was designed at a time when the stimulus had to be implemented quickly and speedily to have the correct and well-timed effect on the Australian economy. As it transpires, there have been a number of very important issues that have arisen from this scheme. As it turns out, companies had low barriers to entry into the home insulation market. Companies, in the context of the transformed environment they were in, made new and important investments. They expanded their workforce and inventories. Fair trading laws, program guidelines, occupational health and safety standards and quality standards may have been ignored. Indeed, fraud has been alleged as well. Those are all terribly serious matters being taken very seriously by this government.

But understand this: the best occupational health and safety standards and the best guidelines will be as for nothing if they are ignored. Time and time again we have heard Peter Garrett outline how he made several changes and improvements to the occupational health and safety standards and guidelines that prevailed in this area. Nonetheless, unfortunately, those standards were ignored and, finally, Mr Garrett recommended the program’s termination because its integrity had been threatened—threatened, unfortunately, by a small number of operators who seem to have ignored the laws of the land. Those operators are going to be pursued with fierce determination by this government, because not only have they put at risk this program and the confidence of the public in the work of this program, but most importantly they may well have engaged in activity which has led to workplace deaths.

We on this side of the chamber are not going to be heckled by those opposite on the question of occupational health and safety standards. While the coalition, like a group of ghouls and vampires, might have discovered workplace accidents for the first time in their political lives, we on this side understand that workers are killed or injured in the workplace every day. We on this side understand what a personal tragedy it is for all concerned, but most particularly for the families. That is why one of the first things Minister Combet did, upon taking on his enhanced responsibilities, was to speak to those affected families. He heard their stories and is now resolved to achieve justice for them on behalf of the government against those who have abused this scheme mercilessly.

We on this side of the chamber are determined to restore consumer confidence. We are determined to make sure that companies who have done the right thing, have performed legitimately and now have pressing inventory costs and wages bills, get as much assistance as is practicable. There is now a safety inspection and rectification work scheme underway with a view to triaging, if you will, those households that have had insulation installed so that those most at risk can quickly achieve relief. For those householders who are concerned about their own roofs, and the installation that has taken place, there is now a hotline that they can call. For workers who have been disadvantaged or whose jobs are at threat there is now a scheme of some $41 million to help them adjust. This is a government that has taken responsibility. (Time expired)