The Government’s strategy for fixing its disastrous Home Insulation Program is to suck the oxygen out of the story so it can get its own agenda and attacks on Tony Abbott back into the spotlight, reports Bernard Keane.
Peter Garrett
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of rocker-cum-politician Peter Garrett. Crikey’s Peter Garrett coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
Peter Garrett and the perpetual present of politics
Peter Garrett either should or shouldn’t have attended a meeting this week, and should or should roll out solar panels fast, and is or isn’t guilty of industrial manslaughter. Welcome to political journalism.
Garrett fingered over dodgy solar panels, but story ‘a beat up’
Dodgy home solar panel installations are putting lives at risk and Peter Garrett is solely responsible, if you believe the news reports doing the rounds today. Except, that’s not quite the whole story.
Fake Steve Fielding: The devil and Peter Garrett
“You can take the devil music out of the boy but you can’t take the boy out of the devil music” says Fake Steve Fielding: Peter Garrett brought rock and roll into Parliament — and now four tradesmen are dead.
Garrett’s insulation scandal gets even hotter
Already under fire over his foil insulation scheme, the scrutiny on Peter Garrett is set to reach boiling point, with new revelations today of dodgy solar panels, shonky businessmen and fresh attacks from industry. Better slip, slop, slap, Pete.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Who’s at fault for Garrettgate?
Crikey supporters weigh in on Peter Garrett’s roofing insulation scheme. Should he shoulder all the ministerial responsibility for the deaths or is that unfair?
Crossing the Floor with Bernard Keane: Why is the media so obsessed with Peter Garrett?
Bernard Keane takes a look at why the media is so obsessed with Peter Garrett and somewhat less obsessed with less convenient stories.
Mungo MacCallum: Should Abbott have been sacked? Yes, if you apply Abbott’s logic on Garrett
There is no doubt that the insulation plan was something of a shemozzle. It was basically a good idea, but rushing it out on a massive scale as part of the economic stimulus package meant that there was not adequate preparation.
Political snippets: Danger signal for Garrett in weekend story
They are by no means a definitive guide to public opinion but opinion polls from newspaper websites at the weekend dissing Peter Garrett should not be dismissed either, plus a PM under pressure and other political news of the day.
Marieke Hardy: It’s a pity party for Turnbull and you’re all invited
It’s sad to watch Malcolm Turnbull skulk the halls of parliament, a shadow of his former self. Luckily he has some company out there in the political wilderness: Peter Garrett, writes Marieke Hardy.
Milne: Garrett’s killed more than the Iraq War
Peter Garrett is responsible for four deaths, but PM Rudd will protect him out of fear of Tony Abbott. This despite Rudd calling for Alexander Downer’s blood for a lesser incident, recalls Glenn Milne.
Porridge time for Garrett
Only one thing is certain from the foil insulation debacle, says Bernard Keane: Peter Garrett must go to prison. The mere act of providing funding for a voluntary program of household insulation surely makes him guilty of manslaughter.
A QLD electrician tells it like it is
As a bloke who is climbing into another ceiling tomorrow and sending people out to do the same on his behalf, Chris Lehmann says Garrett needs to instigate a foil insulation policy removal immediately.
Garrett’s not the only one with bloody hands
The crazy logic of the pursuit of Peter Garrett is that he must take responsibility for the actions of everyone who has received Government funding, no matter how irresponsible they are in their own actions.
Crikey Says: Can we really blame ministers for everything?
If you follow Tony Abbott’s logic on ministerial responsibility, there would be Ministers’ heads served up on platters with monotonous regularity.
David Marr: Lonely Turnbull has no political certainty
Peter Garrett copped the wrath of parliament yesterday, but it was also Malcolm Turnbull’s big day as he crossed the floor to vote for the ETS. The quiet Turnbull seemed to have lost his statesman’s stance, writes David Marr.
Is Garrett a goner?
The scrutiny continues to pile up on Peter Garrett over the foil insulation debacle, with a growing chorus of voices calling for him to be fired or step down. A look at how the pundits saw it today.
Garrett foiled
Environment Minister Peter Garrett has come under fire for his roofing foil insulation scheme, and the media sharks are circling. Is this the end for Garrett or just a serious dent to his image?
The photos that shame Garrett’s insulation scheme
Wondering exactly what all the Peter Garrett roof insulation fuss is about? Just check out these photos sent by an anonymous insurance company of a house burnt out just one day after new insulation was installed, writes Patrick Stafford.
Has Kevin Rudd oversold himself?
Rudd and his office will now learn that high-handedness and manipulation are fine when things are going well – when you’re up against an inept Opposition and the polls can’t seem to flatter you enough. But times they are a-changin’.
The pursuit of Peter peters out — but more berating of Barnaby to come
Peter Garrett was spared a grilling over his bungling of the Green Loans and foil insulation program today, with all eyes were fixed firmly on Barnaby Joyce, waiting to see if he stumbles again, says Bernard Keane.
Tips for Tony Abbott
The Opposition has two big issues on which it could inflict real damage on the Government — and it is wholly ignoring one and feebly prosecuting the other.
Mungo MacCallum: Rudd must fire in the whaling war
If Japan’s whaling doesn’t end soon, Kevin Rudd will have to take the risk of legal action against the Japanese government, if only to maintain his own political credibility.
