Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I draw the minister's attention to a detailed report by journalist Frank Pangallo that aired on the South Australian version of Today Tonight last week. The story was followed on the national program last night. The reports detailed allegations of fraud and the dangerous installation of rooftop solar power systems that were sold by True Value Solar and installed by a separate company called Solar Installation Australia. The systems installed attracted federal government rebates under the government's renewable energy certificates scheme. Specifically, the report contained allegations from former staff of these businesses that paperwork sent to the government contained forged sig­natures and fraudulent information. Today Tonight obtained copies of the fraudulent documents. My question to the minister is: how can there be public confidence in the validity and accuracy of documentation forwarded to the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator by solar companies claiming solar credits? Has the government inquired further into these serious allegations concerning the rorting of a federal government scheme?