As part of the kick to the economy last year when the Global Financial Crisis was at its most deadly, the Australian government introduced a series of spending programs. One was to offer free insulation to every Australian household, up to the value of $1,200. Overnight a cottage industry was born. Tradesmen raced to have their businesses certified so they could install insulation for free to households - then charge the Federal Government $1,200 per household.
Once again, the devil is in the details.
With the rush to get insulation and construction industry funds flowing, the program was introduced rapidly. There appears to have been insufficient training and little oversight. One tradesman suggested I factor the government’s $1,200 into the cost of our remodelled kitchen. He would get the grant for the full amount of the insulation even if we only were going to use one batt. No harm no foul? We didn’t go ahead with that tradesman!
Other than overcharging, the lack of training led to faulty installation. Pink batts were laid over halogen light fixtures - putting that house at risk of fire. Some houses got inferior quality insulation so the benefit is lost. Others had foil insulation stapled into place with metal staples. And as the young installers were not trained, some pierced electrical wires. Four people were killed. More were severely burned. An unknown number of houses have “live” attics or worse, especially if that “live” foil insulation comes into contact with water pipes. In that case the bathtub spigot could be an electrocution hazard.
Now that all these issues have come to light, there are calls in Parliament for the sacking of the Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett.
Today Garrett is featured in a front page photo in The Australian. Is he in the crawl space of a home accompanying an inspector? Is he bedside with a burned installer? Is he in a cramped conference room working with industry leaders to solve the problems? Nope. Minister Garrett is alongside a stream looking at a small snake, as yesterday he launched an effort to monitor reptiles, snakes and maybe even bugs.
Yes, I am familiar with the excuse that it was a pre-booked event. And yes, somehow I understand that snakes are critical to the environment. And of course “business as usual” does need to proceed. But I am not the public.
What the public see is a Minister out in the bush - and out of touch. People have died and homes may be unsafe. And in comparison to that, the snakes don’t matter. Sorry. The Minister needs to demonstrate control of this “burning” issue or else we’ll demand government put someone in charge who will.
PS: The comments of the author are in no way meant to disrespect reptiles or snakes or any other “creepy crawlies,” as the Minister’s office described them.
