Home insulation scheme royal commission begins

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/23/home-insulation-scheme-royal-commission-begins

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A royal commission of inquiry into deaths and injuries linked to the Rudd government's home insulation scheme is set to begin in Brisbane.

Four men died while working on the roll-out of the so-called "pink batts" scheme, set up in 2009.

Three of the men were Queenslanders: Matthew Fuller, Reuben Barnes and Mitchell Sweeney. The fourth, Marcus Wilson, was from NSW.

Their families believe the $2.8bn program – implemented by the then prime minister, Kevin Rudd, to inject money into the economy during the global financial crisis – was rushed and lacked adequate safety standards.

According to the Australian, Rudd and former environment minister Peter Garrett could be called as witnesses by the inquiry.

The details of which witnesses will be summoned are yet to be released, but the newspaper reported that the commission had been allocated funds to provide legal counsel to former ministers.

The inquiry will also investigate the effect the program had on the reputation and profits of long-standing home insulation businesses.

Heading the royal commission is barrister and commercial dispute resolution practitioner Ian Hanger QC.

Hanger has until 30 June next year to provide a report of his findings and recommendations.

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