Royal Commission into botched home insulation scheme begins 1 HOUR AGO MARCH 17, 2014 3:30PM UPDATE: A senior public servant and her colleague were given one weekend to cost the Rudd Government’s botched insulation scheme. Mary Wiley-Smith said she got a call late Friday on the Australia Day weekend of 2009 to get to work on costings and report to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Monday. Ms Wiley-Smith told the Royal Commission into the Insulation Program in Brisbane there was no proposal in existence a fortnight before the plan was announced by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in early February 2009. Queenslanders Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes and Mitchell Sweeney, and Marcus Wilson from NSW, died while installing insulation under the former Labor government’s scheme. The $2.8 billion stimulus program, launched in early 2009 during the global financial crisis, has also been linked to at least one serious injury and hundreds of house fires Ms Wiley-Smith and a colleague went to work on the Australia Day weekend, talking with officials from the Federal Finance Department on the Sunday but effectively doing the costings job themselves. They were not permitted to talk to other colleagues or figures in the insulation industry, she said. Ms Wiley-Smith, then Assistant Secretary within the Resources Energy and Efficiency Division in the Department of Environment, did not support the proposal to roll the program out over two years. She believed a five year roll out was more appropriate. The home insulation program was announced in early February 2009 by the then Rudd Labor Government to help combat the impact of the Global Financial Crisis which erupted in late 2008. But the scheme, alleged to have been rolled out in haste, was swamped by contractors with poor qualifications resulting in poor installation that led to at least 100 house fires. Abandoned after one year, the scheme is also alleged to have played a part in the deaths of workers Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney and Marcus Wilson. Ms Wiley-Smith said she believed the program could have run over five years and both stimulated the economy while having a more positive impact on the insulation industry. Earlier, former prime minister Kevin Rudd will be called to give evidence at the royal commission into his government’s botched home insulation scheme. Former environment minister Peter Garrett and former senator Mark Arbib, who was charged with co-ordinating government stimulus spending programs, are also set to appear before the $25 million inquiry. However the public may never know the content of cabinet documents relating to the bungled scheme, which has been blamed for the deaths of four installers and hundreds of house fires. All cabinet documents, including letters between Mr Rudd and Mr Garrett, have been provided to the commission but lawyers representing the Commonwealth are seeking to withhold them from the public. Meanwhile, the old convention of Cabinet confidentiality threatens to stymie evidence put before the Home Insulation Royal Commission, a lawyer has claimed. Counsel Assisting Keith Wilson, QC, said decisions relevant to the insulation program were made by the executive arm of government. Briefings and submissions to Federal Cabinet were needed to understand the nature of the advice that was given in relation to the program, he said. “The documents are largely historical, they do not involve a current political controversy,’’ he said. The roll out of the insulation program which began in 2009 was designed by the then Rudd Labor Government to help combat the impact of the Global Financial Crisis which erupted in late 2008. But the scheme was swamped by contractors with poor qualifications resulting in poor installation that led to at least 100 house fires. The scheme is also alleged to have played a part in the deaths of workers Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney and Marcus Wilson. Mr Wilson said the public interest aspect of the inquiry was heightened by the four deaths. “The loss of life is a gravity beyond economic considerations.’’ The Federal Government said it was prepared to hand over a large number of Cabinet documents but was still required to uphold the convention of Cabinet confidentiality. Tom Howe, QC, from the Australian Government Solicitors Office, said the Commonwealth had gone to great lengths to cooperate with the Royal Commission. “We do not seek to clothe in confidentiality the ordinary business of government,’’ he said. “We are keeping it to a minimum.” But the Commonwealth also required a “sensible regime’’ respecting both the public interest in matters of transparency and disclosure, Mr Howe said. The inquiry continues. ____________________________________________ Earlier it was reported: FEDERAL public servants risked jail if they talked to the Insulation Royal Commission in a sticking point which has impeded evidence gathering. The Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program began in Brisbane this morning with revelations both the office of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and factional leader Senator Mark Arbib were heavily involved in the insulation roll out. Commissioner Ian Hanger, QC, told the crowded court room the Commission was not a trial. “This is not a trial, it is any inquiry designed to get to the heart of some very troubling matters,’’ Mr Hanger said. Counsel Assisting Keith Wilson, QC, said three politicians and numerous state public servants had taken part in voluntary interviews. But in a “significant impediment’’ to the investigation, both serving and ex-federal public servants found they risked committing a criminal act if they spoke to investigators. Under Section 2.1 of the regulation governing their code of conduct, public servants feared criminal charges for breaches of confidentiality. Mr Wilson said a compromise was reached with the Australian Government Solicitor present at each interview. The rollout of home insulation, which began in 2009, was designed by the then Rudd Labor Government to help combat the impact of the Global Financial Crisis, which erupted in late 2008. But the scheme was swamped by contractors with poor qualifications resulting in poor installation that led to at least 100 house fires. The scheme is also alleged to have played a part in the deaths of workers Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney and Marcus Wilson. Mr Wilson said evidence would show Mr Rudd’s office was involved in the implementation of the program along with the office of Senator Arbib. Mr Potts has told the ABC he wants to cross-examine former Labor minister Peter Garrett, and other key figures including former prime minister Kevin Rudd and former treasurer Wayne Swan. He says he wants to establish the thinking behind the government and the need to rush this out in circumstances where it appears that safety was not in the forefront, but speed was’’. The public hearings begin at 9.30am on Monday in Brisbane Magistrates Court and are expected to last up to five weeks. Ian Hanger AM QC has been appointed royal commissioner. A report of his findings and recommendations is expected by June 30. _____________________________________________ Wendy Sweeney with a photograph of her son Mitchell at their home in Griffith, NSW. Mitch Rueben Barnes was electrocuted while installing insulation at a Stanwell home, south of Rockhampton in 2009. Source: Supplied Catherine and Kevin Fuller, parents of Matthew Fuller who died after installing the failed pink batts insulation scheme pictured at the home in Brisbane’s south. Source: News Limited
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:07:29 +0000
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