House debates Questions without Notice

Home Insulation Program

Thursday, 18 March 2010 House of Representatives

Ms Julie Bishop

Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

2:51 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister inform the House how many homeowners like Mr Daniel Gouveia, from Bexley in Sydney, have had paper insulation installed in their roofs under the government’s home insulation scheme? Is the Prime Minister aware that homeowners, such as Mr Gouveia, with paper insulation have been told by the government hotline they are not eligible for a safety inspection? Given the New South Wales Fire Commissioner has confirmed there have been 70 house fires in the last year caused by insulation, will the Prime Minister now provide free safety inspections to each of the 1.1 million homes which have had insulation, including paper insulation, installed under the government’s home insulation scheme?

Kevin Rudd

Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for her question. As the government and the minister responsible have said on many occasions, the government will undertake as many inspections of homes as is necessary.

Wilson Tuckey

Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party

Mr Tuckey interjecting

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

The member for O’Connor will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for O’Connor then left the chamber.

Kevin Rudd

Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

What we have said is that initially that will focus on the 50,000 or so homes with foil insulation. We have also indicated that we will provide inspections concerning a further 150,000 homes as relates to the particular matters in the particular household which the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has referred to. Can I ask her to take that up specifically with the minister responsible, and we can attend to the circumstances of the homeowner concerned.