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Peter Garrett 'gutted' after first death under home insulation program Peter Garrett 'gutted' after first death under home insulation program
(4 months later)
The former environment minister Peter Garrett was “gutted” when the first death occurred under the home insulation program, the royal commission in Brisbane heard on Wednesday.The former environment minister Peter Garrett was “gutted” when the first death occurred under the home insulation program, the royal commission in Brisbane heard on Wednesday.
Matthew Fuller was electrocuted while installing insulation in October 2009. He was the first of four men who would die while carrying out the work subsidised by the federal government's economic stimulus package.Matthew Fuller was electrocuted while installing insulation in October 2009. He was the first of four men who would die while carrying out the work subsidised by the federal government's economic stimulus package.
The royal commission in Brisbane is examining the government processes and policies around the scheme. On Wednesday questioning of Garrett continued, focusing on the adequacy of the safety and compliance measures.The royal commission in Brisbane is examining the government processes and policies around the scheme. On Wednesday questioning of Garrett continued, focusing on the adequacy of the safety and compliance measures.
“I think it's obvious that if you get a death in a program, it focuses everybody,” Garrett said.“I think it's obvious that if you get a death in a program, it focuses everybody,” Garrett said.
“I was gutted when that happened. It meant a great deal of additional attention on safety necessarily took place.”“I was gutted when that happened. It meant a great deal of additional attention on safety necessarily took place.”
Garrett told the commission he could not recall having any conversations with Rudd about Fuller's death, and was not aware of communications between his office and that of the prime minister.Garrett told the commission he could not recall having any conversations with Rudd about Fuller's death, and was not aware of communications between his office and that of the prime minister.
“It would be my expectation that staff and advisers would be speaking regularly with staff and advisers in the prime minister's office,” said Garrett.“It would be my expectation that staff and advisers would be speaking regularly with staff and advisers in the prime minister's office,” said Garrett.
“But I didn't receive any formal advice or direction from the prime minister as to what our course of action should be.”“But I didn't receive any formal advice or direction from the prime minister as to what our course of action should be.”
In a possible swipe at his former colleague Mark Arbib, Garrett also defended his answers thus far, saying he had not once excused memory failures by saying the events occurred five years ago and that he had other portfolios to deal with at the time.In a possible swipe at his former colleague Mark Arbib, Garrett also defended his answers thus far, saying he had not once excused memory failures by saying the events occurred five years ago and that he had other portfolios to deal with at the time.
“This was important to me,” said Garrett.“This was important to me,” said Garrett.
Despite telling media just days before Fuller's death that the government had a “really significant monitoring and compliance program”, only 467 roof inspections had been carried out after more than 430,000 insulation installations, the commission heard.Despite telling media just days before Fuller's death that the government had a “really significant monitoring and compliance program”, only 467 roof inspections had been carried out after more than 430,000 insulation installations, the commission heard.
Elizabeth Wilson QC, representing the siblings of one of the dead workers, Reuben Barnes, asked: “Does that sustain a view that there was a sufficient monitoring and compliance program?”Elizabeth Wilson QC, representing the siblings of one of the dead workers, Reuben Barnes, asked: “Does that sustain a view that there was a sufficient monitoring and compliance program?”
Garrett replied: “It is true that over time the speed [of monitoring] … fell behind the speed at which insulation was taking place.”Garrett replied: “It is true that over time the speed [of monitoring] … fell behind the speed at which insulation was taking place.”
A key issue under examination is how safe it is to use staples when installing foil insulation. Fuller and 22-year-old Mitchell Sweeney were electrocuted when they pierced live wires with metal staples. The commission has heard that advice and warnings based on the deaths of three men in New Zealand under similar circumstances were given to department staff before the Australian deaths.A key issue under examination is how safe it is to use staples when installing foil insulation. Fuller and 22-year-old Mitchell Sweeney were electrocuted when they pierced live wires with metal staples. The commission has heard that advice and warnings based on the deaths of three men in New Zealand under similar circumstances were given to department staff before the Australian deaths.
A February 2009 email from an industry representative, Peter Ruz, of Fletcher Insulation, to Department of Environment staff, said in no uncertain terms that stapling through foil was an “unacceptable risk”, and “a practice recently stopped in New Zealand due to electrocution deaths”.A February 2009 email from an industry representative, Peter Ruz, of Fletcher Insulation, to Department of Environment staff, said in no uncertain terms that stapling through foil was an “unacceptable risk”, and “a practice recently stopped in New Zealand due to electrocution deaths”.
Garrett told the commission on Tuesday he had never seen the email before, but staff should have told him about it.Garrett told the commission on Tuesday he had never seen the email before, but staff should have told him about it.
On Wednesday a briefing note to Garrett, written a few days before the email, was shown to the commission. “The department is also in discussion with New Zealand ministries … in relation to their experience with foil insulation and safety issues,” it read. On Wednesday a briefing note to Garrett, written a few days before the email, was shown to the commission. “The department is also in discussion with New Zealand ministries … in relation to their experience with foil insulation and safety issues,” it read.
A handwritten note by Garrett at the end of the paper notes his “significant” concern over foil use.A handwritten note by Garrett at the end of the paper notes his “significant” concern over foil use.
Garrett conceded he did not ask his staff about these discussions when the decision was later made not to ban the use of foil. “It should have been followed up by the department and brought to my attention,” he told the commission.Garrett conceded he did not ask his staff about these discussions when the decision was later made not to ban the use of foil. “It should have been followed up by the department and brought to my attention,” he told the commission.
On Tuesday Garrett told the commission that after Fuller's death he no longer had complete trust in the information he was receiving from his department.On Tuesday Garrett told the commission that after Fuller's death he no longer had complete trust in the information he was receiving from his department.
Garrett was demoted from his portfolio in 2010 amid calls for his resignation after the scheme's rollout.Garrett was demoted from his portfolio in 2010 amid calls for his resignation after the scheme's rollout.
Justin Sweeney, Mitchell’s brother, told the media on Tuesday the scheme should have been shut down immediately after Fuller's death.Justin Sweeney, Mitchell’s brother, told the media on Tuesday the scheme should have been shut down immediately after Fuller's death.
“They should have looked into it a lot further. There seemed to be advice that was presented today that surely would have carried enough weight that surely they should have suspended it to make a real assessment,” he said.“They should have looked into it a lot further. There seemed to be advice that was presented today that surely would have carried enough weight that surely they should have suspended it to make a real assessment,” he said.
“It continues to open old wounds. My family is just seeking closure. After the royal commission it will go a long way to seeking closure. Hopefully the commission comes out with recommendations but overall my family – and I'm sure the other families – just want to make sure that if a program is rolled out like this again ... that this never happens, that people don't lose their lives.”“It continues to open old wounds. My family is just seeking closure. After the royal commission it will go a long way to seeking closure. Hopefully the commission comes out with recommendations but overall my family – and I'm sure the other families – just want to make sure that if a program is rolled out like this again ... that this never happens, that people don't lose their lives.”
The commission continues in Brisbane. The former prime minister Kevin Rudd is expected to appear on Wednesday afternoon.The commission continues in Brisbane. The former prime minister Kevin Rudd is expected to appear on Wednesday afternoon.