Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. I refer to Cohuna Hardware, which serve my electorate and which have struggled to stay afloat during seven years of drought. They decided to participate in the home insulation installation program. They complied with all of the requirements of the scheme and were underway with the work when the program was scrapped last Friday. Will the minister now guarantee compensation for such small businesses who, through no fault of their own, are seriously out of pocket as a result of the gross maladministration of this program?

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. I can advise the House that the government has indicated that it is prepared to consider appropriate transitional arrangements for legitimate industry participants and that a hotline is now available, the installer hotline, 1800—

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So you’ve indicated you’re prepared to consider—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned! The minister has the call. The minister is responding to the question.

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in order to enable people to receive accurate information in respect of the ongoing transition in this program. The government is focused on providing support for those people who are retrenched. Any insulation workers who lose their jobs have access to assistance under the Compact for Retrenched Workers. In particular, the government is focused on helping any insulation worker who may be affected.

I must make the observation that it is the opposition that voted against the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan in its entirety; it is the opposition that opposed this scheme in its entirety; it is the opposition that called for the suspension of this scheme—

Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order about relevance. The question was about compensation for the small business—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Murray will resume her seat.

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to this scheme, the opposition are all crocodile tears. They opposed it at the start, they want it suspended, and we are moving immediately to work through transitional arrangements, mindful of the impacts on employment in this sector.