Pink batts Royal Commission welcomed by industry

The Coalition has kept its pre-election promise to establish a full judicial inquiry into the Rudd government’s Home Insulation Program (HIP). Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has welcomed the launch of the $25 million royal commission into the controversial pink batts program.

“The scheme was rolled out hastily without proper planning around safety or proper consultation with industry,” said MEA Chief Executive Malcolm Richards.

“The Queensland Coroner’s report released earlier this year found warnings to the Rudd government raising urgent safety concerns by industry had been ignored and I expect the royal commission will have similar findings.

“It’s essential a disaster like this is never repeated, which is why we welcome this royal commission and are urging the inquest to not only look into what advice and warnings were potentially ignored but to also urgently examine the issue of safety switches.

“Tragic incidents like the deaths under the HIP could have easily been avoided had safety switches been installed on every circuit in those homes.”