More questions over Australia's troubled insulation scheme

Susan McDonald

Last Updated: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:20:00 +1100

The Australian Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, will face more scrutiny over the home insulation scheme amid new revelations the government was advised to delay the program.

The opposition will mount another attack on Peter Garrett, seizing on an independent risk register into the now scrapped insulation scheme which was handed to the government in April last year.

It lists fires and sub-standard insulation as risks and suggests delaying the scheme.

The $US2.25 billion insulation scheme has been linked to four deaths and more than 90 fires.

The opposition's environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says Mr Garrett must resign for not acting.

"That is and was a powerful recommendation and the minister ignored it," he said.

A Senate inquiry into the program is seeking more governent witnesses.

Liberal Senator Mary-Jo Fisher says officials from the Prime Minister's Department have been called to appear.

"We'll be finding out what was their involvement," she said.

The next hearing is on Friday.

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