Government blunder!!!!!
By mipen2006
@mipen2006 (5528)
Australia
February 25, 2010 6:13pm CST
As part of their ‘Green Push’ the Australian Government introduced a scheme where you could get insulation in your roof without costing you one cent. The idea was, the company doing the installation would bill the government direct, instead of the home owner paying and then claiming the rebate. Well this caused a surge in new companies doing roof insulation. There was no control on these individuals, and as a result a lot of shabby work was done, and sub-quality materials used. It has taken several deaths, and many house fires for the government to change the situation. It just goes to show how the government jumped in without proper research being done. The minister has kept his job, and with an election coming this year it could cost the government dearly. Do you think the minister should bear the responsibility for the loss of life and property, after all when things go right the ministers are the first to look for a pat on the back?
2 people like this
5 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
26 Feb 10
Yes I have been hearing a lot about this. The government clearly did not prepare properly for this project and the possible outcomes and the companies involved should definitely be charged for doing shoddy work and/or not being properly qualified to do the work. Both the government and the companies involved are to blame. It is a shame that there had to be loss of life because of dishonesty and incompetence!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
26 Feb 10
You are spot on there paula. If it were a private company, the government wouldn't be able to start an investigation quickly enough. It might hurt them come election time.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
26 Feb 10
The idea was good, but the delivery was very bad. Poor management, poor accounting. I wouldn't mind my roof to be insulated but I would like to be able to choose the right company and have the inspector to approve the job done before anyone gets pay.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
26 Feb 10
Hi pola, you're spot on with the inspection bit. If the installations were inspected, the problem would not have reached the damage it has now.
@DeenaD (2684)
• United States
26 Feb 10
Too bad, that such a good idea went so wrong. Governments sometimes do really dumb things. Did I just say sometimes? I meant to say, almost all the time, and yes, I think the ministers must take the blame. And I hope they did put the proper controls in by now.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
26 Feb 10
It was doomed from the start because enough time and thought wasn't put into the project. The installers should have been regulated, and controlled by the government. But this didn't happen. If it were to happen in private enterprise, the CEO, and others would lose their jobs, and probably have to answer serious charges.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
26 Feb 10
The idea was a good one, serving several purposes, energy-saving and personal comfort being the main ones.
The problem was that the government didn't foresee the depravity of human nature and the likely outcome: disreputable people doing a shoddy job for quick profit.
Those installers who cut corners were the ones who caused the tragedies, and they are the ones who should be held responsible. They should be charged.
The government also shares responsibility, in that they should have ensured that any authorised installers were reputable tradesmen. Maybe the State Building Authorities could have issued licences under strict guidelines? I don't know the answer, but I know the work should have been given to qualified and reputable tradesmen - not to overnight quick-profit merchants.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
26 Feb 10
You have summed it up well, and if it were private enterprise there would be an inquiry, and heads would roll. Thanks for your input.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
10 Mar 10
hello mipen, here too in india many such govt oriented projects go in the wrong track, they moblised public to have sort of septic latrines in homes, but the agency doing this took the full cost from the person and billed the govt too
thanks for sharing here
bhuwan
