Fed: Abbott calls for insulation letters

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2010
Fed: Abbott calls for insulation letters

BRISBANE, April 27 AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called on the prime minister
to release correspondence between minister Peter Garrett and himself over the failed insulation
scheme.

Mr Abbott visited an insulation storage facility in northern Brisbane on Tuesday, where
he was told the company was facing extremely difficult business circumstances.

"I don't know if we can keep our doors open much longer," said director of Higgins
Insulation, Cliff Aldridge.

Mr Abbott said Kevin Rudd needed to come clean over Labor's now-axed $2.45 billion
scheme, which has been linked to four deaths and more than 120 house fires.

He said the government had squandered billions of dollars on its stimulus programs,
leading to 240,000 "dodgy or dangerous" insulation installations.

"But there are also hundreds if not thousands of businesses which are in a dire financial
situation because they relied on the government's promises," Mr Abbott said.

"This is probably the most botched government program in living memory."

Mr Aldridge said his company had geared up for "two years of stimulus".

"We can't give the stuff away now - we are having to store it," he said.

"It's a very, very grim future."

AAP stg/pjo/ash

KEYWORD: INSULATION ABBOTT UPDATE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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