The Federal Government has announced that it will not proceed with the insulation component of the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme (REBS), following advice received from Dr Allan Hawke in his Review of the Administration of the Home Insulation Program.
The insulation component of the REBS was due to commence on 1 June 2010. The Solar Hot Water Rebate component will proceed as previously announced.
In his report on the Home Insulation Program (HIP), Dr Hawke advised that he had "grave concerns about the wisdom of proceeding with any further government supported home insulation program."
The report was tabled in Parliament this week and made available publicly.
In remediation of the HIP, the Government has established the Home Insulation Safety Program (HISP) and the Foil Insulation Safety Program (FISP).
Under the HISP, safety inspections of a minimum of 150,000 homes that had non-foil insulation installed under the HIP will be carried out.
Under the FISP, the 50,000 homes that had foil insulation installed under the HIP will have the option of having the foil insulation removed, or alternatively on the advice of a licensed electrician, having safety switches installed.