MrDak - Infrastructure Head questioned in Batt's Inquiry
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MrDak - Infrastructure Head questioned in Batt's Inquiry
Mike Mrdak [Mrdack] has been questioned and identified in the current pink batts inquiry.
Kevin Rudd named Mrdak as the public servant responsible in the current inquiry as being the "King Crat".
A collection of the articles is at: http://wp.me/p36nTu-Vx
The article in the Australian today bears more than a casual glance:
Kevin Rudd named Mrdak as the public servant responsible in the current inquiry as being the "King Crat".
A collection of the articles is at: http://wp.me/p36nTu-Vx
“It made it very difficult for Minister Garrett to drive the direction of the program.’’
Mr Levey also told the inquiry that staff in Mr Garrett’s department became confused and anxious about changes to the program by Mr Arbib and the co-ordinator-general, Mike Mrdak (Mrdak).
But he agreed those changes couldn’t happen without Mr Garrett’s approval.
The Rudd government announced the pink batts scheme on February 3, 2009, to stimulate the economy during the global financial crisis.
Mr Levey also told the inquiry that staff in Mr Garrett’s department became confused and anxious about changes to the program by Mr Arbib and the co-ordinator-general, Mike Mrdak (Mrdak).
But he agreed those changes couldn’t happen without Mr Garrett’s approval.
The Rudd government announced the pink batts scheme on February 3, 2009, to stimulate the economy during the global financial crisis.
Kevin Rudd admits ‘system failure’ in batts scheme
The former prime minister yesterday accepted “ultimate responsibility” for the “deep tragedy”, while accusing the public service of advising him of deadly risks only after the *fatalities and criticising the role of political enemy Mark Arbib.
Under forensic cross-examination at the royal commission investigating the $2.8 billion Home Insulation Program, Mr Rudd admitted he did not personally demand a safety review or cancellation of the program after the initial deaths.
“I have accepted ultimate responsibility, for what was not just bad, but a deep tragedy, as it affected the lives of the families concerned,” Mr Rudd said.
The insulation scheme was axed in February 2010, after 224 house fires and the four deaths.
Given unprecedented free rein to reveal cabinet secrets, Mr Rudd said he relied on high-level advice from the public service, which told him the program was “on track” until after the fourth death, and from his ministers.
Elizabeth Wilson — counsel for the siblings of 16-year-old Rueben Barnes, the second installer to die when he was electrocuted in November 2009 — asked Mr Rudd whether he personally considered suspending the program after Rueben’s death.
“That advice was not put to me, to the best of my knowledge,” he replied.
The former prime minister said he was preoccupied with “rescuing the economy” during that period and relied on the public service to be “wicketkeepers” and ensure policies were safe.
Mr Rudd said he put in place a co-ordinator-general, “first-class” public servant Mike Mrdak, and a parliamentary secretary, “energetic young minister” Mark Arbib, to ensure his government’s $42bn economic stimulus program ran smoothly.
He said he told Mr Arbib in February 2009 to watch the program, which included the batts scheme, closely so problems could be “nipped in the bud” immediately.
This contradicts Mr Arbib’s account to the commission that he was responsible merely for publicly spruiking the economic stimulus package and had no decision-making power.
Mr Rudd denied being the architect of the scheme, or setting its rushed July 1, 2009, start date.
Glaring safety warnings were clear early in the scheme, but were not passed up the public service chain to Mr Rudd or his ministers.
As early as February 18, 2009 — two weeks after Mr Rudd announced the batts program — the insulation industry warned environment department bureaucrats of three electrocutions under a similar New Zealand insulation policy.
In April more public servants were told of the “high likelihood of catastrophic consequence (death or serious injury)”.
Mr Rudd said that while he was reluctant to act as “judge” by blaming specific individuals, “the system failed … as a consequence, four young people — leaving aside the actions of their employers — have died”.
“All the families are entitled to feel confused, angry, let down by this system, which ultimately didn’t perform to protect the lives of their loved ones,” he said.
Earlier, Martin Sweeney, the father of Mitchell Sweeney, the final installer to die under the program, tearfully gave a brief statement. “No family should ever have to go through what we’ve been through,” he said. “We love you very much, Mitchell, and we haven’t stopped missing you.”
Former climate change minister Greg Combet is scheduled to testify today.
- Sarah Elks and Jamie Walker
- The Australian
- May 16, 2014 12:00AM
The former prime minister yesterday accepted “ultimate responsibility” for the “deep tragedy”, while accusing the public service of advising him of deadly risks only after the *fatalities and criticising the role of political enemy Mark Arbib.
Under forensic cross-examination at the royal commission investigating the $2.8 billion Home Insulation Program, Mr Rudd admitted he did not personally demand a safety review or cancellation of the program after the initial deaths.
“I have accepted ultimate responsibility, for what was not just bad, but a deep tragedy, as it affected the lives of the families concerned,” Mr Rudd said.
The insulation scheme was axed in February 2010, after 224 house fires and the four deaths.
Given unprecedented free rein to reveal cabinet secrets, Mr Rudd said he relied on high-level advice from the public service, which told him the program was “on track” until after the fourth death, and from his ministers.
Elizabeth Wilson — counsel for the siblings of 16-year-old Rueben Barnes, the second installer to die when he was electrocuted in November 2009 — asked Mr Rudd whether he personally considered suspending the program after Rueben’s death.
“That advice was not put to me, to the best of my knowledge,” he replied.
The former prime minister said he was preoccupied with “rescuing the economy” during that period and relied on the public service to be “wicketkeepers” and ensure policies were safe.
Mr Rudd said he put in place a co-ordinator-general, “first-class” public servant Mike Mrdak, and a parliamentary secretary, “energetic young minister” Mark Arbib, to ensure his government’s $42bn economic stimulus program ran smoothly.
He said he told Mr Arbib in February 2009 to watch the program, which included the batts scheme, closely so problems could be “nipped in the bud” immediately.
This contradicts Mr Arbib’s account to the commission that he was responsible merely for publicly spruiking the economic stimulus package and had no decision-making power.
Mr Rudd denied being the architect of the scheme, or setting its rushed July 1, 2009, start date.
Glaring safety warnings were clear early in the scheme, but were not passed up the public service chain to Mr Rudd or his ministers.
As early as February 18, 2009 — two weeks after Mr Rudd announced the batts program — the insulation industry warned environment department bureaucrats of three electrocutions under a similar New Zealand insulation policy.
In April more public servants were told of the “high likelihood of catastrophic consequence (death or serious injury)”.
Mr Rudd said that while he was reluctant to act as “judge” by blaming specific individuals, “the system failed … as a consequence, four young people — leaving aside the actions of their employers — have died”.
“All the families are entitled to feel confused, angry, let down by this system, which ultimately didn’t perform to protect the lives of their loved ones,” he said.
Earlier, Martin Sweeney, the father of Mitchell Sweeney, the final installer to die under the program, tearfully gave a brief statement. “No family should ever have to go through what we’ve been through,” he said. “We love you very much, Mitchell, and we haven’t stopped missing you.”
Former climate change minister Greg Combet is scheduled to testify today.
Last edited by Up-into-the-air; 16th May 2014 at 09:14.
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On bowlers hats and Volvo's
And the king of the trough has this to say about our retired silvertails:
Pensioners angered by claims of 'cruises and luxuries' splurge
Ironic isn't it? The government has the nerve to have a shot at the pensioners spending up on holidays, yet these same political parasites gouge the taxpayer trough and spend decades enjoying 'international study trips', business class travel and 'working trips' to exotic locations!! They can claim their super early, receive generous retirement perks and the list goes on. Most of the pensioners mentioned by Truss have spent 40 or 50 years contributing to this nation, unlike you snivelling rorting piece of sh#t politicians.
When the f#ck will the revolution start? How many of them and how many IOS?? It's time to act people..........
Pensioners angered by claims of 'cruises and luxuries' splurge
Ironic isn't it? The government has the nerve to have a shot at the pensioners spending up on holidays, yet these same political parasites gouge the taxpayer trough and spend decades enjoying 'international study trips', business class travel and 'working trips' to exotic locations!! They can claim their super early, receive generous retirement perks and the list goes on. Most of the pensioners mentioned by Truss have spent 40 or 50 years contributing to this nation, unlike you snivelling rorting piece of sh#t politicians.
When the f#ck will the revolution start? How many of them and how many IOS?? It's time to act people..........
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Sunny will the next inquiry be another Lockhart Rivet??
Hopefully not, but noone expected over 200 hundred house fires or four deaths and no reactions ' by those entrusted by the public.
