Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. As the minister responsible for stimulus plan work opportunities, when did the minister first become aware of the inadequate training and safety issues for workers involved in the ill-fated home insulation program?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the good senator for the question. In my role as, firstly, the parliamentary secretary for our government’s service delivery but also as the then Minister for Employment Participation, I have done everything possible, as has Minister Garrett and as has his department, to ensure that adequate safety arrangements have been in place for the home insulation program. These issues of training were identified from day one. It was clear that it was necessary for adequate training to be put in place and the minister responsible made a number of decisions throughout the term of the program to ensure that adequate safety arrangements were in place. In terms of the question of when I was aware that training was going to be necessary, it was from day one, because it was clear to anybody involved that this sector had been completely unregulated and that training was required for those workers who were moving into the sector. Can I also say how saddened I was that the program was forced to shut. This will result in the loss of many jobs. While those on the other side of the chamber, the Liberal Party and National Party senators, can skite about the home insulation package, I do not and will do everything possible to stand by those workers who have lost their jobs to ensure they have training, to ensure they— (Time expired)

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The time for debating this is at the end of question time. I am waiting to call Senator Cormann.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is it true that the minister, as the then Parliamentary Secretary for Government Service Delivery, attended weekly briefings on the development of the home insulation program? Did he make himself aware of the contents of the risk assessment or risk register prepared by Minter Ellison, and if so when?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I can confirm to the Senate that I was involved in meetings and I met regularly in my role with all departments and all ministerial officers involved in the rollout of the stimulus package. A line of communication was created between the Commonwealth and state governments and obviously the coordinator-general. In relation to the report, in the past week my office has checked its records and I can advise that neither I nor my staff had seen the report prior to my office receiving it on 12 February this year. I do not hide from the fact that I was present at discussions concerning risk in the home insulation program, along of course with Minister Garrett, along with his staff and along with his department. Of course, that would be the appropriate thing to do: manage risk, try to ensure that the program worked— (Time expired)

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment Participation, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. What specific steps did the minister take to ensure that those workers installing insulation as part of the government’s rushed stimulus package had sufficient training to do the job safely?

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Throughout the entire process the government—Minister Garrett, his staff and his department—were 100 per cent committed to establishing and maintaining a robust compliance and audit program as well as managing the risks that go along with any program.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When there is order we will proceed.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In terms of what was done, there was an installer register for providers and that had the terms and conditions of registration including requirements for installer insurance, minimum skills and training competencies and, obviously, the program’s ordinance and compliance regime, the nationally accredited training package for insulation installers, the referencing of Australian standards and the Building Code of Australia in the program guidelines, the convening of regular industry consultative roundtables to monitor the program’s rollout and an adaptive approach so—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I know there is not much time left, but it is very difficult to hear the answer if people are constantly interjecting.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

an approach to be able to manage issues as they arise, and I know Minister Garrett has raised that on a number of occasions. (Time expired)