The scrutiny continues to pile up on Peter Garrett over the foil insulation debacle, with the Environment Minister admitting in Parliament yesterday he knew about the risks in his roof insulation program as far back as February last year.
Now Garrett and Rudd are facing a growing chorus of voices calling for him to be fired or step down.
Here’s how the pundits saw it today:
The Australian
Christian Kerr: Blow-in forgets Labor gospel
Workplaces have changed over the years, but construction sites, large and small, are still tough and harsh and risk-filled places to be.
Garrett doesn’t understand these nuances.
The Age
Editorial: Garrett racks up strikes against him
… all these administrative woes create the impression of a minister struggling with his responsibilities. Mr Garrett cannot afford any more accidents.
Michelle Grattan: Minister safe, just for now
The Prime Minister knows the political drill: to sacrifice a minister for bad administration does little but make your opponents more blood thirsty.
National Times
Tony Wright, The Goanna: Not slaughter, but a fight for political life
It may have been over the top to suggest that Garrett should be on trial for manslaughter, but there was no doubt he was on trial for his political life.
He survived.
Herald Sun
Phillip Hudson: No safety net for Peter Garrett in election year
In an election year, PMs only stand by an embattled minister for so long.
Garrett followed expert advice and demanded high standards, but this should have been settled before the scheme started.
Ballarat Courier
Editorial, Warning bells should have rung for Garrett on insulation scheme
Mr Garrett is not a career politician, and this sometimes shows through his handling of his portfolio.
Elsewhere…
Grog, Grogs Gamut blog, On the QT: Please Sir, May I have Another?
Greg Hunt asked Garrett six questions, and in not one of them did Garrett look shifty or struggling for facts. He was able to repeat parts of his ministerial statement and looked well at ease doing so. By the third question the heat of the attack had gone out, and it was clear Garrett was safe.
Kevin Rudd should be a goner, for making Garrett rush the insulation programe out as fast as possible so he could spruik about his stimuals measures creating jobs and making his unemployment figres look good.
I still do not understand how the Government, or specifically Peter Garrett is responsible. It is not like they specified that foil insulation is used, or that foil insulation was not used prior to the grants.
Furthermore, the government has set out rules and regulations (laws) that put responsibility on employers to provide adequate training and safe working environments for their employees.
I have previously been involved in the insulation industry and know for a fact that the industry is full of cowboys under ordinary circumstances, (it is relatively easy; if unpleasant; work, and materials are cheap- leading to good profits for all concerned).
So because unscrupulous employers, cut corners and provide inadequate training things go wrong. This may have been excacerbated by the rebate but certainly wasn’t caused by it, and any idiot should know that foil, being a conductor of electricity, should be handled extremely carefully in the roof of a building, with lights, wiring and god knows what else around.
So essentially the argument is that commercial enterprise is crying out for the government to regulate the industry, but, whenever the governement does set out to regulate an industry, there is hue and outcry that the government should stay out of business.
Lose, Lose
OK
Lets have a plea bargain, Pete will understand.
We will trade Pete for John Howard and senior ministers to face war crime tribunal over AWB admissions.
Is the Health Minister responsible for each death in Hospital? Is the Transport Minister responsible for each death in a motor vehicle accident? Howard managed to escape responsibility for dozens of deaths when Siev X sank, so it’s unreasonable to blame Garrett for dodgy tradies breaching guidelines.
146 children, 142 women and 65 men – SIEVX