The Government's $41 million home insulation industry rescue package was a knee-jerk reaction and another example of policy on the run, a Senate inquiry has heard today.
Chairman of the Coalition Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee, Senator Guy Barnett, said a senior Government official at the Senate Environment Committee inquiry today confirmed he was given less than 24 hours to prepare a plan for the re-training of 2000 insulation workers.
The Department was given just two further business days to prepare the Government's $41 million rescue package.
"It is a joke and proves this is policy on the run by the same Government that created this mess," Senator Barnett said.
"How could anyone have confidence in the Government's rescue package when you look at the waste and mismanagement throughout this program.
Up to $200 million was wasted when the Government overpriced the rebate at $1,600 instead of the revised market rate of $1,200. As much as $50 million will be spent auditing homes with dodgy insulation, plus $10 million for training and now another $41 million for this rescue package.
"Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been wasted under this program with no end in sight," Senator Barnett concluded.
"The program has been linked to 4 deaths, 93 house fires, 1000 electrified rooves and an estimated 240,000 homes with unsafe or dodgy insulation.
"The Department today could not even say how long it would take to audit the homes at risk and at what cost.
"The waste and mismanagement is appalling and it seems no-one wants to take responsibility," Senator Barnett concluded.