Government & Politics

Rudds Insulation for 2,000,000 Homes

Government & Politics

Posted by: Al

27th Feb 2009 11:47pm

Do you think the money could have been better spent? Perhaps on Pre-schools, Hospitals etc....


Comments 59

mikko
  • 14th Sep 2011 04:39pm

This is not where the problem lies the problem was that the money eg policy was not implemented properly to avoid waste and death like so many mismanaged policies before it....simply put if the money was managed and not wasted there would be alot more to spend in other areas.

pothum
  • 8th Sep 2011 09:07pm

What a waste of money. Mother had her house insulated under this scheme .. during safety inspection they discovered it wasn't done right. Isn't doing what it is supposed to and guess what?? The company has closed down and it will cost to repair the damage. Money would have been better spend on education or in hopsitals.

stretch
  • 14th Jan 2011 12:16pm

it sure could have been
he could have listened to what was being said during the avulation of australia in regards to what was to come with the change in weather situations
it just hit queensland and some nsw
the politicians were aware of the long term outook and it was broadcasted
tv radio cb and emergency call frequencies
lets see them denie the pipe line with what has happened
and they expect the general public to put up cash for repairs as well volunteer workers
man how rude rude

Anonymous
  • 8th Dec 2010 10:18pm

yes in the health and schooling as we cant work without schooling and health checks

P.J
  • 29th Nov 2010 06:33pm

Solar panels on every building, All lights on empty buildings to be turned off at night. Make sure all sensors which turn on lights are working . How often do you see lights on during the day because sensors aren't working or not programed correctly. We have enough public servants employed doing useless jobs, like going around moving on motor homes which are looking for a free stay on public land. After all the land belongs to the people. Motor homes should be encouraged to stay overnight in car parks by schools and any other public building. This would discourage vandals, and therefore safe money.

Max_Headroom
  • 27th Nov 2010 08:40am

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

blondie72
  • 28th Nov 2010 10:39am
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

19chris51
  • 27th Nov 2010 06:57pm
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

butterfly
  • 23rd Nov 2010 01:35pm

There are far more important things to spend money on, the pipe line idea from skinny being one. I know a couple who had their insulation renewed just because they could, how many more did that. No hospitals and police need money more.

dennis
  • 7th Nov 2010 05:35am

Possibly, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. It was a good concept but poorly implemented. I believe insulation in every home is a great idea - they should learn from this one, and now consider doing solar panels, water efficient devices etc..

oldbud
  • 20th Sep 2010 10:50am

Hell NO he has done exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. If your house burns down blame the installer not the bank.

princess
  • 12th Aug 2010 11:33am

For sure they wasted too much money!!!!!!

wandus
  • 12th May 2010 01:02pm

The insulation money was wasted. Any other way of spending it would be an improvement

ros
  • 9th May 2010 11:47am

it really annoys me that so many people r 2 quick2 jump on the blame bandwagon - there ALREADY WAS a scheme b4 this one!! only difference was it was a pay-as-u-go type whereby the consumer (u) install first then claim it back after u have paid yr bill from the govt... and there really wasn't any problems w it.... what i c is the issue sooo many people have MISSED is that the EMPLOYERS are 2 blame for the deaths of those kids.... rudd's not an installation installer never was, doubt any of his ministers or the opposition ministers were either.... WHERE WERE THE EMPLOYERS when their employees were installing??? HOW MUCH TRAINING and SUPERVISION WAS REALLY GOING ON FROM THE BOSSES?? OHS was scrapped in the name of a quick buck.... the employers are solely to blame... and i would like my home insulated cheaply - we missed out bc some people wouldn't take responsiblity for their own mistakes....

Hughie
  • 22nd Sep 2010 12:10pm
it really annoys me that so many people r 2 quick2 jump on the blame bandwagon - there ALREADY WAS a scheme b4 this one!! only difference was it was a pay-as-u-go type whereby the consumer (u)...

Spot on Ros, the installers did the crap jobs, and poor old KR and Co copped the blame...from Bigmouth Abbott and co, who always manage to badmouth anything but have you noticed can never ever offer a viable alternative?
BOTH sides of the house should work together for the good of the Country, not just have an Opposition that opposes anything and everything just because they are called the opposition. How childish is that ??

spabath
  • 7th May 2010 03:26pm

I agree with all the sentiments expressed on this topic. However, one more thing to think about. Politicians produce policies but the implementation is carried out by our overpaid senior bureaucrats. Department heads and senior public servants surely should have been putting stragegies into place to ensure that the insulation program was correctly administered. Off with their heads, I say.

david
  • 3rd May 2010 09:17pm

i think the original idea was a good one.but unfortuneately some rogues got in on the act and buggered the system altogether.some houses before batts were introduced were sweat houses.but since it stuffed up so badly.the money could have gone to better causes.david

Bubbles
  • 30th Apr 2010 10:59am

I live in a large Village and many of our homes got the insulation and have had no problems at all, however we are in the country where contractors are known to us and we don't often find a scammer. I wish people would leave Rudd alone - he is doing the best he can and is a wonderful Prime Minister. Saying this, when Julia Gillard becomes PM our country will get back on track. It will take a woman to fix up the messes of both liberal and labor. Give Rudd a go.

phinnie
  • 13th Apr 2010 12:24pm

Well yes, I have noticed that. However, I have also noticed the same shonky people coming out of the woodwork when:

a cyclone hits an area and there is a need for increased contractors

flooding hits and area and there is need for increased contractors

somebody suffers a chronic illness or cancer and they are looking anywhere for hope

and then with the Liberals

the Collins Class Submarines (I think that gave the word shonky a whole new depth of meaning)

The Wheat Board - another shonky institution at best, or an institution which fed a worse shonky institution.


So in answer to your question

yes

but in reply to your question/inference - no it is not just Labor. They are all the same. We just have short memories.

blondie72
  • 2nd Apr 2012 08:45am
Well yes, I have noticed that. However, I have also noticed the same shonky people coming out of the woodwork when:

a cyclone hits an area and there is a need for increased...

Thanks Phinnie, it's really nice to read an informed, well written, level headed reply on this subject. Have a great day! :)

phinnie
  • 12th Apr 2010 03:52pm

The idea was good - the execution was flawed.

I guess we can go on about only genuine forims being allowed to instal, but would that not close the market to any new businesses coming online.

And ifw e cannot manage to only employ "good" doctors when their qualifications - one would think - would be easier to ascertain (and both side of politics have failed on this) then how can you do it for insulation installers?

I know I appear to be taking the devil's advocate side, but I just do not believe anything is as easy as it seems.

dingodan
  • 13th Apr 2010 11:55am
The idea was good - the execution was flawed.

I guess we can go on about only genuine forims being allowed to instal, but would that not close the market to any new businesses coming...

Have you noticed that all Labours Policies , ie , Roof Insulation , Education Revolution BER , and the Illegal MigrantBoat Peoplle , all seem to be designed to encourage shonky profit making at the Taxpayers Expense ! .

sylvester
  • 11th Apr 2010 10:47am

I agree ideas are not properly thought through but pushed out into the media spotlight to give the impression of accomplishing things. Then they go pearshaped as the pink batts scheme, how many house fires and deaths is it now? The BER also has enormous problems with overquoting, poor work, unwanted buildings and destruction of gardens.

Buck
  • 9th Apr 2010 08:49pm

It was a good concept, but typical government so poorly managed, to the cost of the Taxpayer. Only recognised tradesmen from registered insulation companies should have been eligible to participate in the scheme to guarantee the safety of those properties where the insulation was installed.
The reputable companies now have been tarred with the same brush as those shonky operators, using unskilled labour and kids for the installation process.
The money could have been better used towards ensuring the never ending stream of so called refugees is stopped. As a legal import into this wonderful country it cost me a lot of both time and money to be lucky enough to get in then only because my wife is of australian descent otherwise we would still be stuck in Africa where there is no hope for any white children attempting to enter the workforce if they were lucky enough to even get a passable education.

peter-cook
  • 1st Apr 2010 12:11am

yes on helth

dingodan
  • 30th Mar 2010 01:52pm

lIKE SO MANY lABOUR CONCEPTS THE IDEA WAS GOOD BUT TYPICALLY
RUSHED INTO WITHOUT ANY THOUGHTOF FINCIAL CONTROL .

wandus
  • 16th Mar 2010 01:17pm

It was a scandalously executed project, typical yahoo-style, no brain engaged at all. This money was wasted and heads should roll

19chris51
  • 27th Nov 2010 06:39pm
It was a scandalously executed project, typical yahoo-style, no brain engaged at all. This money was wasted and heads should roll

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

ros
  • 9th May 2010 11:40am
It was a scandalously executed project, typical yahoo-style, no brain engaged at all. This money was wasted and heads should roll

if u bothered to do some research u would know that the scheme implemented before this one was a pay-as-u-go, ie., cunsumer (u) installs first THEN claims it back from the govt... all this govt did was change the way u claim.... which i think is the wrong way and has led to some rorting of the system by unsrupulous businesses whom would not have been given the job in the first place by the consumer!!... rudd is NOT the installer... merely a scapegoat and a big spender.

Anonymous
  • 11th Mar 2010 11:48am

I think the whole program was handled badly. Only trades people with good records should have been able to register for the program.

theblues
  • 10th Mar 2010 12:32pm

This is not a blame game but a trust game, how can we trust Rudd and his government with billions of dollars on other projects when this fairly small project fails to produce a good result for everyone involved

19chris51
  • 27th Nov 2010 01:30pm
This is not a blame game but a trust game, how can we trust Rudd and his government with billions of dollars on other projects when this fairly small project fails to produce a good result for...

theblues this is not a blame game or a TRUST game, it was no game it was just someone trying to do the right thing for us the constituants, if you blame anyone blame the greed of those people in those business trying to rip off the goverment and taxpayers, shame on you, alsoI agree with blondie72, john howard did get into goverment with the chant no gst (think about and remember) in the early 90s, then what did he do he snuck it through or no exactly snuck it through, people where too stupid to get informed opinions before they voted, and yes he left the country in surplus, but what about HOSPITALS, how run down where they,alright if you can afford private, this is a hornets nest, we as people will never all agree, but atleast think!!!!!!!!!

blondie72
  • 19th Jul 2010 05:05pm
This is not a blame game but a trust game, how can we trust Rudd and his government with billions of dollars on other projects when this fairly small project fails to produce a good result for...

You are all forgetting the LIBERAL broken promises and outright lies too!
I recall HOWARD saying "There will never be a GST".....yeah right!
Howard lying about the children overboard.
Howard and his 'work choices'.....!
I could go on too but its all in the name of politics.
Rudd kept us out of the recession with his "Rudd money handouts"........and I bet you & Max_Head didn't hand it back to him in disgust!

Pete
  • 22nd Feb 2010 05:38pm

How can you blame Rudd, he did not install. Wake up libs are only using this for there gain. They dont cars about whats really happened.

Warney
  • 1st Apr 2012 09:21pm
shonky workmanship was to blame, for the insulation debarkle................and oh yea, try a world recession for things not being done, I think you are just so anti labor (your choice) but liberal...

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

blondie72
  • 19th Oct 2011 10:29pm
blondie72, please stop putting people in the same basket. you don't like it, I don't like it and there is no need for it. people have different opinions and there is absolutely no need for abuse....

LOL!! Tony Abbott is the 'king' of putting people in the same basket but woe-betide some little housewife does. hahaha... GBY2

paradox
  • 19th Oct 2011 04:23pm
You're exactly right 19chris51! However it is typical of MOST Liberal die-hards to be abusive bullies with no education either formally or informally.

blondie72, please stop putting people in the same basket. you don't like it, I don't like it and there is no need for it. people have different opinions and there is absolutely no need for abuse. God be with you and protect you.

blondie72
  • 27th Nov 2010 10:54am
max_headroom you are a very rude person,if people have a differebt opinion to you they are bloody fools or morons, i think you should wake up to yourself, we are all dufferent people...

You're exactly right 19chris51! However it is typical of MOST Liberal die-hards to be abusive bullies with no education either formally or informally.

19chris51
  • 27th Nov 2010 10:04am
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

max_headroom you are a very rude person,if people have a differebt opinion to you they are bloody fools or morons, i think you should wake up to yourself, we are all dufferent people (thankgoodness) and intitled to our own opinions, personally i don`t like yours and am not a fool or moron, wake up to yourself because you are so rude i don`t believe many people will agree with you, maybe this has happened to you or yours, but you should blame the operators, you are too angry!!!!!!!!

Max_Headroom
  • 27th Nov 2010 08:44am
How can you blame Rudd, he did not install. Wake up libs are only using this for there gain. They dont cars about whats really happened.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

19chris51
  • 26th Nov 2010 10:58pm
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

shonky workmanship was to blame, for the insulation debarkle................and oh yea, try a world recession for things not being done, I think you are just so anti labor (your choice) but liberal have got who.......tony abbot, idiot abbot I DON`T THINK SO

Max_Headroom
  • 10th May 2010 04:28pm
How can you blame Rudd, he did not install. Wake up libs are only using this for there gain. They dont cars about whats really happened.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

woolysmissus
  • 19th Feb 2010 12:40pm

We rent and the insulation really helped keeping our home cool. (and I suppose it will help keep it warm too) The difference is amazing (we don't have air conditioning). This means lower energy usage and bills. All good things for many people. I think this money was well-spent though probably misused by some companies trying to get their share of it. There are a lot of good things that need to be funded and many things that need to be better monitored.

Warney
  • 1st Apr 2012 09:33pm
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

Blondie, Max does have a point.
I work in the Federal Government and I personally had involvement with this scheme. The policy was rushed through to try and stimulate the economy but unforunately there were no safeguards to stop dodgy operators starting up overnight. The policy was far to easily exploited and the Prime Mininster was briefed on these issues. Whilst the Government may have had good intentions it was very poorly implemented and ended up a disaster. The Goverment does have a responsibility to ensure that certain safeguards and compliance activity is in place to protect the community.
In this instance they failed to do all they could and should have done despite being warned.

blondie72
  • 27th Nov 2010 10:49am
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

Max_Headroom
  • 27th Nov 2010 08:49am
Max_Headroom - ARE you serious! It is in NO way anyone's fault that those poor people died EXCEPT the shoddy operators who employed/used them to make a quick dollar and take advantage of a...

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

blondie72
  • 19th Jul 2010 04:59pm
You have got to be kidding. You wont be saying that if your house catches on fire because of it. The whole thing was a blkoody mess. You must see that. 4 people dead so you could have a cooler...

Max_Headroom - ARE you serious! It is in NO way anyone's fault that those poor people died EXCEPT the shoddy operators who employed/used them to make a quick dollar and take advantage of a government trying to do something for it's people.

How many truck drivers, miners, fireman, etc die each year doing their jobs? Do you even know? Just as many.......so stop blaming the unsuspecting people such as woollysmissus who were victims of the shoddy opertaors too.

Max_Headroom
  • 10th May 2010 04:22pm
We rent and the insulation really helped keeping our home cool. (and I suppose it will help keep it warm too) The difference is amazing (we don't have air conditioning). This means lower energy...

You have got to be kidding. You wont be saying that if your house catches on fire because of it. The whole thing was a blkoody mess. You must see that. 4 people dead so you could have a cooler house. Hope you're happy.

lurch101
  • 8th Feb 2010 09:07am

Concidering the amount of companys who have ripped of the goverment by claining for work done sometimes ever for a vacant block and then the fault work on some of the houszes. I think there should have been a accounting system of cross checking before payments were made.

Nifty100
  • 10th Mar 2009 06:49pm

Yes the money should be saved Rudd is doing the typical Labor thing spend like a drunken sailor and then leave it for the Liberals to pick up the bills when he gets tossed out. The same applies to the State Labor governments who are steadily going broke.

19chris51
  • 1st Apr 2012 08:57pm
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

Warney
  • 1st Apr 2012 04:32pm
Warney...... Thats really very unthinking of you ,good grief, we have, at long last better hospitals, schooling, In could go on but the point is under the Libs we were maybe 20million in the...

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

19chris51
  • 1st Apr 2012 04:14pm
I would have thought people would use their vote to get the most qualified people into office to ensure the country is run appropriately. Comments like this explain why we currently have one of the...

Warney...... Thats really very unthinking of you ,good grief, we have, at long last better hospitals, schooling, In could go on but the point is under the Libs we were maybe 20million in the coffers, but what of EDUCATION.........HEALTH. I have Grandchildren at school who are benefiting, my son has Spina Cerebella Ataxia through no fault of his own ( unlike some) and is in need of constant medical attention or is often in hospitals, and I thank god every day that we have the hospital beds vailable for him, and lots of other people like him, before it was hard hard, yes it is hard, but its a bit better, and ou know what abbott, will wreck it.

Warney
  • 31st Mar 2012 10:35pm
leave it for the liberals to clean up, are you joking or what...think aboat it TONY ABBOT YUCK......??!!

I would have thought people would use their vote to get the most qualified people into office to ensure the country is run appropriately. Comments like this explain why we currently have one of the most incompetent Governments in Australia's history.

19chris51
  • 5th Feb 2011 03:55pm
Yes the money should be saved Rudd is doing the typical Labor thing spend like a drunken sailor and then leave it for the Liberals to pick up the bills when he gets tossed out. The same applies to...

leave it for the liberals to clean up, are you joking or what...think aboat it TONY ABBOT YUCK......??!!

stretch
  • 14th Jan 2011 12:22pm
Just my opinion but, Mr Rudd has some strange ideas .. Maybe its because he does not have a money shortage at home, he has lost track that money runs out.

agreed the money they say he has lieing in the home is crazy but he loves to invest capital in others country
he also loves his british family

bj
  • 10th Mar 2009 07:00pm
Yes the money should be saved Rudd is doing the typical Labor thing spend like a drunken sailor and then leave it for the Liberals to pick up the bills when he gets tossed out. The same applies to...

Just my opinion but, Mr Rudd has some strange ideas .. Maybe its because he does not have a money shortage at home, he has lost track that money runs out.

skinny
  • 2nd Mar 2009 04:11pm

Yes!!! He could have used it towards a pipeline from Qld through the Darling/Murray river system to keep the river flowing. The Murray is dying. Qld have all this water that will just go to waste with the flooding.

stretch
  • 14th Jan 2011 12:20pm
Yes!!! He could have used it towards a pipeline from Qld through the Darling/Murray river system to keep the river flowing. The Murray is dying. Qld have all this water that will just go to waste...

listen skinny the pipe line may work but to repair the damage man / women has done to the darling murray river
it would take the armed forces over 10 years
it is not just the lack of rain fall lets look at the chemical buildup alone
and even then man would kill it of as man is scared of nature and does not know how to look after things like this
politicians were told how to fix the problem over 5 years ago in a long term out look
they were worned of the up and coming storms
change in weather
so were the police through the cbs and emergency devices not phones though

Help Caféstudy members by responding to their questions, or ask your own in Café Chat, and you will get the chance of earning extra rewards. Caféstudy will match these and donate equally to our two chosen Australian charities.

AMCS
Australian Marine Conservation Society are an independent charity, staffed by a committed group of scientists, educators and passionate advocates who have defended Australia’s oceans for over 50 years.
Reach Out
ReachOut is the most accessed online mental health service for young people and their parents in Australia. Their trusted self-help information, peer-support program and referral tools save lives by helping young people be well and stay well. The information they offer parents makes it easier for them to help their teenagers, too.