Stop the pink batt fraud cover up Mr Combet

Victims of pink batt fraud are facing a cover up from Climate Change Minister Greg Combet, who is refusing to provide details on the outcome of individual complaints of fraud under the Rudd-Gillard government’s disastrous Home Insulation Program, halted ignominiously in February last year, Paul Fletcher, Member for Bradfield, said today.

“These include several of my constituents in Bradfield,” said Mr Fletcher.

 “In the case of two apartment complexes, the owners discovered – to their horror – that insulation had been installed in the complexes without their consent.

“In one of these cases, significant damage was caused – causing an $800 levy to be imposed on each unit holder for rectification work. In another case, claims were made by an unscrupulous installer for payment from the government – but no insulation was actually installed.

 “Victims understandably want to find out who broke into their homes, or made fraudulent claims involving their homes, and to be informed of prosecutions and the result of those prosecutions.

“I have written to the Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet, about this matter on several occasions, as well as asking a number of questions on notice.

 “Extraordinarily, Mr Combet has said that fraud victims may never be told the result of the government’s investigations.

 “He has also not disclosed the number of claims of fraud made under the Home Insulation Program, or the findings of the forensic audit he says was conducted.

“His approach shows contempt for the individual complainants – and all Australian taxpayers who have been stuck with the bill for this hopelessly mismanaged and extensively rorted program.

 “I have moved a motion in the Parliament, condemning the Government for its secrecy and calling on it to provide complainants with detail of the outcome of fraud investigations.

“The Motion is expected to be debated on 4 July 2011.

“I have also called on the Government to provide information about how many claims of fraud have been made, how many claims were identified in the forensic audit, and to provide details about prosecutions and outcomes, as they occur,” Mr Fletcher said.

Media Contact – Georgia-Kate Schubert 02 9465 3950 or 0414 210216