It is good that when Rudd is trying to pretend that the previous Rudd Labor government was great, that a few reminders pop up to show why Rudd was sacked as PM.

"Queensland coroner Michael Barnes said the risk of electrocution “was not appreciated” by government authorities at the outset of the home insulation program, despite it being raised repeatedly by industry representatives.

“It is reasonable to conclude the dangers should have been foreseen and mitigated before three people died in Queensland and another in New South Wales,” Mr Barnes said in his finding today, as he referred a number of employers and supervisors to prosecutors for investigation.

Mr Barnes said the speed at which the stimulus program had been rolled out had placed the needs of the economy ahead of human safety.

“Because a major focus of this program was the stimulation of the economy to counter the effects of the global financial crisis it needed to proceed far more quickly than that, but not at the cost of human life,” he said.

The coroner said it was “primarily failings in the planning and implementation of the (home insulation program) by commonwealth agencies that led to an increased risk of harm”."

I hope that people remember all those that died due to Labor's incompetence in ceilings and at sea.

Shadow Minister,
despite all the rhetoric,all the bo whos and all the sorries no one will suffer an actual penalty. No one will go to prison, no one will lose their job, their superannuation, the home.
This is the real reason why nothing changes... because there are no real PENALTIES.

I have some enormous criticisms of Rudd mark 1, but this is not one of them.

The onus of care for the workers that died rested fairly and squarely with their employers. They were obligated to make sure that their employees were properly trained, which was all-important in an environment where there was a major hazard, ie; electrocution.

The companies involved are the main culprits here.

You can understand that the government would have expected that the people doing this sort of work would have been properly trained.

As you say SM;

<< …Mr Barnes … referred a number of employers and supervisors to prosecutors for investigation. >>

My feeling is that the government should bear some of the responsibility for this tragedy, but certainly not the lion’s share.

There is always a risk. Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about this saga is that a progressive government, implementing good policies, copped a huge backlash, and is less likely to implement anything similar in the future. Consequently, they are more likely to become like Abbott and his Libs – the do-nothing-progressive mob!

SM an element of truth in your thread.
We did not see as many deaths as you seem to want us to beleive but it was badly done.
The 4 deaths, I believe deaths need not have happened.
But as we put more and more such work out to contract the shonks do worse jobs.
Your side would not have done it better, the deaths would still have taken place.
Public servants do let shonky contracts out to crim,s.
The worse hypocrisy is your I hate unions side.
Kicking Labors head, for doing what you would have done, not letting unions get its hands on the cash non union contractors made.
Unionists in such work places are near non existent.
We should not forget claims it was a waste of money are so clearly untrue it is on some lips a known lie.

....The companies involved are the main culprits here.

Yes Ludwig, you are right, however, it was the legislation that allowed these shonks, and there were many, to infiltrate this industry.

Everyone from the local sparky, to the mower man was all of a sudden an insulation expert and more importantly, many of their staff were literally pulled from the dole ques.

Where the government was at MAJOR FAULT, was when they were repeatedly warned BY EXPERTS but chose to push ahead regardless.

The entire project should have been halted after the first near miss, or death, not after the fourth death.

Another poor performance from Rudd was in the way he set Garrett up to take the fall,as it was Garrett who stressed to Rudd that there were major problems yet Rudd insisted they push ahead.

I just hope there is an enquiry into the government of the days role as well.

The minute Rudd calls the election he will be hammered with insulation and border protection, the worst two descisions of labor, both of his making.

Bring it on I say.

Ludwig,

The coronial inquest does not agree with you. While the CEOs will face criminal charges, it was clear that right from the beginning Garret and Rudd were warned that implementing the program in the manner they did had exactly the risks that eventuated, but they went ahead anyway.

It is only the immunity they have as parliamentarians that saves them from criminal or civil prosecution.