Industry figures warned the Rudd government that rolling out its home insulation program in two years was “insane”, an inquiry has heard.



Technical expert James Fricker told the royal commission into the troubled scheme that insulation representatives believed the rollout was too fast to be done safely.

Fricker said in a statement that those who attended a meeting on February 18, 2009 – just weeks after the scheme's announcement – advised that the two-year time frame was “insane”.

They believed it did not allow enough time for new installers to be properly trained, exposing them to safety risks like electrocution, falling through plaster ceilings and fire, he said.

Fricker said industry experts also believed the demand for insulation would exceed the ability of Australian manufacturers to maintain supply, and the rollout was too quick to allow authorities to perform adequate quality checks.

"It was clear to me that the proposed timeframe would result in Australian insulation product capacity being exhausted and would result in mass importation of insulation products from overseas," he said in his statement.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd's home insulation scheme, launched as an economic stimulus measure during the global financial crisis, has been blamed for four deaths, one serious injury and at least 100 house fires.

Two men died while using metal staples to secure foil insulation.

Under cross-examination, Fricker said he knew foil insulation could be deadly and the use of metal staples was a “huge concern”.

However, he said he expected installers would be given adequate training.

“At that time I thought it could be done safely,” he said.

“Now I wouldn't recommend that practice.”

Fricker said his consulting mainly focused on energy efficiency, but other industry representatives had raised safety concerns with bureaucrats.

The royal commission before Ian Hanger QC continues.