PM accepts responsibility for insulation

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has stopped short of calling Peter Garrett a liar,
suggesting it was "inconceivable" he wasn't warned about two damning reports into a
failed insulation program.
Mr Garrett faces ongoing pressure over his claim he only recently became aware of
two reports handed to his department last April warning of problems with the scheme,
which has now been axed.
Ratcheting up the coalition assault, Mr Abbott questioned whether Mr Garrett was
telling the whole truth about what he knew and when.
"Either the department deliberately kept him in the dark or he wanted to be kept in
the dark," Mr Abbott told the Seven Network.
"I find it almost inconceivable that public servants would deliberately fail to
provide a minister with information of this significance."
Mr Garrett hit back accusing the coalition of "crocodile tears" after it questioned
him about job losses resulting from the scrapping of the scheme.
"The opposition are all crocodile tears," Mr Garrett told parliament, flagging
"transitional arrangements" to help affected businesses.
"They opposed it at the start, they want it suspended."
While the opposition continues to gun for the minister, there are no signs it will
claim its desired ministerial scalp.
Mr Garrett was given a "hearty" round of applause from Labor colleagues at a meeting
on Tuesday as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd proclaimed the government's full confidence
in the besieged minister.
Mr Rudd moved to take some of the heat off Mr Garrett, saying he accepted ultimate
responsibility for the program linked to four deaths and 93 house fires.
"I, as prime minister of the country, am responsible for the good news, the bad
news, the implementation of programs effectively, the implementation of programs
that have problems," Mr Rudd told reporters.
"As prime minister of the country I take full responsibility for that that goes well
and that which doesn't go so well. That does not exclude the debate concerning this
program."
Mr Rudd was accused of using the release of a long-awaited terrorism white paper to
take some of the focus away from Mr Garrett.
There were signs, however, the opposition may be getting ahead of itself even though
it has failed to land a fatal blow.
Queensland Liberal Andrew Laming told reporters the insulation debacle was "an
opportunity for the coalition to beat Mr Rudd at the next election".
Labor also questioned the appropriateness of claims from Liberal senator Simon
Birmingham.
"The greatest threat to the safety of many Australian families over the last 12
months has been the home insulation program and Peter Garrett's mismanagement of
it," Senator Birmingham said.
Mr Rudd suggested to caucus the comments were an example of how an Abbott government
could be a "step too far".