Rudd punishes Garrett over home insulation scheme fiasco

KEVIN Rudd has stripped Environment Minister Peter Garrett of climate change roles in the fallout from the $2.4 billion home insulation fiasco.

KEVIN Rudd has stripped embattled Environment Minister Peter Garrett of climate change roles in the fallout from the $2.4 billion home insulation fiasco.

The Prime Minister informed Mr Garrett of his demotion during a long conversation early this afternoon, within 24 hours of Mr Rudd admitting that he was personally responsible for “a lot” of the problems with implementation of the axed scheme.

“There have been some serious problems with the implementation of the (insulation, and solar energy) programs,” he said today.

“Problems that as prime minister I have taken responsibility for, and problems that I'm therefore responsible for taking action to fix.”

He acknowledged the demotion of Mr Garrett, saying: “Let's not try to sugar coat this; it represents a reduced range of responsibilities, that is a fact.

“There is no point sugar coating this, this does mean a different range, and a reduced range of responsibilities. That is a fact.”

He said “no one would doubt Mr Garrett's passion for the protection for he environment itself. These changes will better enable him to focus on those areas, such as the Antarctic, the Great Barrier Reef.”

Mr Garrett would also have responsibility for “flora, fauna, and the overall natural state” of Australia.

But the energy efficiency programs had been stripped from the minister.

Mr Rudd also made clear that it was he, and not Mr Garrett, that had taken the decision.

“Minister Garrett and I had a long conversation earlier this afternoon,” Mr Rudd said. “I indicated the course I'd be taking, and the minister accepted that decision.”

He said he would create a new department, the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, to deliver the government's climate change policy and programs.

Penny Wong will add energy efficiency to her responsiblities for climate change and water.

Greg Combet will be given responsibility for the wind-up of the home insulation program, which Mr Garrett dumped last Friday amid mounting pressure after it was linked to four deaths and 93 house fires.

Mr Combet will retain his existing defence responsibilities.

Mr Rudd said he hoped that by removing responsibility for climate change programs from Mr Garrett, the minister would be able to concentrate on “his passion”.

Speaking after his demotion, Mr Garrett put on a brave face, saying environment protection, heritage and the arts were his “key interests and passions”.

Mr Garrett said that he had tried to fix the problems with the insulation scheme. “As I have said previously, rolling out a program of this size and scale has not been without its problems, problems I have recognised and endeavoured to address at every stage,” he said.

“I know my colleagues, Penny Wong and Greg Combet, will do an excellent job in the transition and delivery of the household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme and other energy efficiency programs, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them.”

Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said Mr Garrett should have been dumped from cabinet.

“Mr Rudd has made a complete farce of ministerial responsibility,” Mr Hunt said.

“He has no standards of ministerial responsibility. Mr Garret remains a cabinet minister after perhaps the most significant real world policy failure of the last 20 years.”

He accused Mr Rudd of not treating the failure of the government's insulation program seriously.

“If Mr Rudd was serious he would sack Peter Garrett, say sorry to the families and immediately ensure that there is a plan to fund and fix the thousand deadly electrified roofs”.