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Rudd unaware of toxic roof batts

News Clippings Samantha Maiden, Online Political Editor, The Australian, February 17 2010

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Melbourne insulation expert Warrick Batt, managing director of Autex, revealed last week that he raised concerns about formaldehyde in imported batts in a meeting with Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

And Doug Mill, managing director of the Demand Group, sent a letter to Mr Garrett warning that high temperatures in the roof could “release gases such as formaldehyde”.

But today the Prime Minister said he was unaware of the claims.

``On the question of formaldehyde that’s a question best directed to the minister,’’ Mr Rudd said at a press conference to launch a $10 million homeless initiative.

``I’m unaware of anything concerning that matter.’‘

Last week, Mr Batt told the Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne that Mr Garrett effectively told him if he was worried about his competitors’ actions he would have to prove it.

“I told him we were aware some imported product had high levels of formaldehyde,” Mr Batt said.

“Mr Garrett effectively said if that was the case, and we could prove it, he would call for action to be taken.”

On December 18, the Polyester Insulation Manufacturers Association lodged a submission with the government specifically warning about formaldehyde.

The letter states, “There has been a flood of materials imported to Australia which both do not meet Australian standards for performance materials, and represent a significant respiratory health risk to both installers and householders due to excessive levels of formaldehyde, which is also a known carcinogen.”

Mr Rudd also refused to say whether he or his department received advice not to roll out the $3.7 billion ceiling insulation rebate scheme so quickly due to safety concerns.

When quizzed on the issue by reporters in Canberra, he said his advice, from Mr Garrett, was that the minister worked his way through the relevant product safety standards, workplace safety standards and training issues.

``The minister was charged, as you would expect, with any such program, with the implementation of the decision taken by the cabinet to go in this direction.’‘

The prime minister defended Mr Garrett’s decision not to attend a meeting between government officials and electrical contractors in Canberra on Monday.

``In my advice, the meeting had been organised as a technical level meeting and the relevant technical representatives of the department and associated agencies of the government were there.’‘

Family First Leader senator Steve Fielding said today evidence to a Senate inquiry in Melbourne today suggested that 30-40 per cent of installers used inferior products that failed to meet basic compliance standards.

“It’s scandalous that a billion dollars can be wasted by a government while working families are left struggling to make ends meet,” Senator Fielding said.‪

“What we’ve got here is a gross waste of taxpayers’ money that can never be recouped because this government can’t manage itself out of a wet paper bag.

“The Prime Minister told the Australian public at the last election that the buck stops with him. Well either he has to sack Minister Garrett or step aside as PM.‪”