Safety switch no fix, electricians warn
Updated
The NECA says safety switches are not a primary defence against electrical faults and shocks from foil insulation. (ABC News: file photo)
Electrical specialists have warned the Government not to use safety switches to fix problems in houses fitted with foil insulation.
The Government says foil insulation in 50,000 homes under its energy efficiency program poses an unacceptable risk.
It has promised to pay for the product to be removed or to have safety switches installed.
But the chief executive of the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), James Tinslay, says safety switches are not a primary defence against electrical faults.
"I have concerns that relying on them will leave... safety gaps where people could be hurt, so I would recommend that RCDs [residual current devices], or safety switches as they are commonly called, not be used in this particular instance," he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has come under pressure to explain when he was first told about problems with the failed home insulation program.
Mr Rudd says he received a letter from then-Environment Minister Peter Garrett on August 14 last year, asking permission to make changes to the scheme, but he will not say why the request was made.
"These are obviously associated with the Cabinet process and we appropriately protect it," he said.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has tried to pin down exactly when Mr Rudd first became aware of the problems.
He says the latest revelations are an indictment on the Government and that Mr Garrett's letter should be released.
"Is he seriously telling the House that he was never informed about the safety problems, fires and deaths under the home insulation program?" Mr Abbott said.
"How can the public have any confidence that the Government can fix the massive public policy failure of its home insulation program?
"Did he warn in that letter of fire, fraud or safety issues and will the Prime Minister now release that letter?
"And further... isn't this why the Prime Minister won't sack Minister Garrett, because the buck stops with the Prime Minister?"
Hot water loophole
The Government is also facing another scandal over rebates for hot water systems.
Mr Rudd says it was a loophole that saw a football team granted 17 hot water systems even though it only had four showers.
"The loophole in question, I'm advised, was closed in September 2009. Anyone fraudulently using any scheme should of course feel the full consequences of the law," he said.
It could be added to the cost of the home insulation scheme mop-up, which Treasurer Wayne Swan today said would be expensive and result in budget cuts.
"Certainly we will have to make our budget fit these costings," Mr Swan said.
"It may well be the case that we will have to make adjustments elsewhere in the budget because of these adjustments."
The exact cost is not known but there are estimates it could be as high as $50 million.
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76 needed to form government
State of the Parties
76 seats required for victory
|
93.1% counted.
Updated Thu Sep 9 10:49PM
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||||||
| Party | % Vote | Swing | Won | Predict | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | 38.0 | -5.4 | 72 | |||
| Coalition | 43.7 | +1.5 | 73 | |||
| Greens | 11.7 | +4.0 | 1 | |||
| Others | 6.6 | -0.1 | 4 | |||
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