Page 320 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
In this instance, this was a meeting of relatively junior officials and it was for the purpose of information being provided by the commonwealth to the ACT about the administration of a commonwealth program. So I am not surprised that this matter was not brought to my attention. It would be logistically impossible for ACT government officials to brief their minister on every and each contact they had with commonwealth agencies—in particular, in relation to commonwealth programs with which the ACT government is not involved.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what outcomes were you informed of this morning and will you table any advice that you were given about the hook-up?
MR CORBELL: I think I have already answered the question about what was discussed at the meeting because Mr Seselja asked me that in his question.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, a supplementary?
MR SESELJA: Minister, did the outcomes of that hook-up prompt any policy changes by the government and, if so, what were they?
MR CORBELL: No. There was no need for any changes to policy. There was no need for policy changes. The ACT, through its agencies, has been proactive, both before and after that meeting, in issuing warnings to consumers and to the industry about the importance of maintaining safety when it comes to the installation of insulation and warnings to consumers about high-pressure sales tactics.
I draw to the attention of members the fact that, on 9 February, I think it was—in February last year—the ACT Planning and Land Authority, before that telephone hook-up took place, issued an advisory reminder to the industry about the importance of maintaining safety and the potential for risks in incorrectly installing insulation. That occurred in February last year.
Following the rollout of the commonwealth package, the ACT government issued the following advisories through its agencies: on 26 November, the ACT work safety commissioner and the Office of Regulatory Services issued a joint media release warning installers of potential hazards as a result of deaths in other jurisdictions and reminding the industry in the ACT of their obligations and potential risks.
We issued a further warning on 30 November, by the Office of Regulatory Services, and we issued a hazard alert. Hazard alert 47 was released on Friday, 27 November last year, reminding installers of their obligations and potential risks in terms of installing ceiling insulation. That hazard warning was also circulated to all installers in the ACT.
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video