Garrett axes home insulation program

The controversial home insulation program that's led to four deaths and nearly 90
house fires has been scrapped by embattled federal Environment Minister Peter
Garrett.

It's been replaced by a new "renewable energy" scheme that contains much tougher
safety regulations and reduced rebates for roof batts and solar systems.
The families of installers who died say Mr Garrett's action has come too late, while
the industry expects 6,000 jobs to be lost.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott believes the minister now has to go.
"If you're going to scrap the program you've got to sack the minister responsible
for the program," Mr Abbott told reporters on Friday.
The opposition also savaged Mr Garrett over a report that warned him of fire, fraud
and quality risks.
Mr Garrett tabled the undated document - compiled by top-tier law firm Minter
Ellison - on Friday.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said Mr Garrett had "hidden" it for more
than six months.
Under the new renewable energy scheme, householders will be able to apply for a
$1,000 rebate after they've paid for insulation.
Previously, installers received a $1,200 rebate.
Mr Garrett says the change will crack down on "shonky operators" who have been
selling insulation door-to-door.
At the same time, the government's solar hot water rebate will be reduced from
$1,600 to $1,000. The refund for heat pump systems has been cut from $1,000 to $600.
Insulation installers will have to re-register and pay a $10,000 cash bond to
participate in the new scheme.
There's tougher training and safety requirements too.
The sister of 16-year-old Reuben Barnes, who died installing insulation in
Queensland last November, said her family was grateful the program had been
scrapped.
Sunny Barnes said Mr Garrett had tiptoed around industry warnings for too long.
"We really thought this would come after Reuben (died), if not the first guy," Ms
Barnes told AAP.
"We feel it's too little too late - the damage is done."
Wendy Sweeney, whose son Mitchell died earlier this month, expressed similar
sentiments.
"It shouldn't have taken four young men to die before something was done," she told
ABC Radio.
Mr Garrett said the fact the new scheme was stricter didn't mean the initial program
was botched.
"I'm not bowing to pressure either, despite significant media hoopla over the last
week or so on this issue," he told Sky News.
"Neither am I responding to what the leader of the opposition has said in relation
to warnings."
The closest the environment minister came to admitting fault was to say he didn't
expect the $3.7 billion program to be abused.
"I freely admit I did not think there would be that many shonky installers who would
take advantage of this program and not follow the guidelines that were properly put
in place."
The new insulation scheme won't start until June 1.
Mr Abbott says that means more than 6,000 people could suddenly be out of a job.
"There's a lot of good businesses there too, as well as not-so-good businesses," he
said.
"Why should the good be punished along with the bad."
It's a view shared by the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand.
On Thursday, it said closing the program "would throw at least 6,000 Australians out
of work" and be "a very heavy-handed response".
Council chief executive Dennis D'Arcy wasn't commenting on Friday.
Mr Garrett has acknowledged jobs will be lost but says affected workers will have
"immediate access to assistance under the government's compact for retrenched
workers".
The minister also insisted he wasn't about to quit.
"I intend to hang around to do my job in the future."