Electrical industry welcomes insulation report from Auditor-General

Peak industry body the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) welcomed the recent Auditor-General report into the mismanaged Australian government Home Insulation Program (HIP).

NECA was very prompt in warning the Australian government about the electrical dangers associated with the insulation program. NECA chief executive officer James Tinslay pointed out that the warnings were given in March 2009, well before the HIP commenced, and the tragic loss of life and severe property damage could have been avoided if closer consultation occurred with industry.

Tinslay stated: “The Auditor-General report correctly identified the failings of the Department to not consult the industry on matters of the minimum competencies required to work near electricity and more broadly on the electrical risks of the program. I think the government has learned a valuable lesson in the fact that industry consultation is important to get things right before it is left to the public service to roll-out major programs.”

Although the initial warnings were ignored by the Australian government, it was encouraging that they turned to industry to assist in writing the safety procedures for inspecting and removing foil insulation that had been installed as part of the program.

Tinslay concluded: “NECA was approached by the government to assist in writing the safety procedures for the removal of foil insulation and we gladly provided this assistance so those in our industry and others mopping up the mess from the failed program could at least do it safely.”