On the attack over Environment Minister Peter Garrett's handling of the insulation rebate programme, Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has himself been slammed by the CFMEU.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Construction Division national secretary Dave Noonan has branded Abbott a hypocrite.
He says if Mr Garrett resigned Mr Abbott should consider his own position, after his own government slashed workplace safety entitlements.
"There's a lot of calls for Peter Garrett to resign but really what we are seeing from the politicians and the opposition here is a lot of political posturing," Mr Noonan told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.
"While if Mr Garrett was going to resign we think Mr Abbott should have a look at his position as well, and a lot of other politicians.
'Mr Abbott, I saw him last night giving a very emotional performance, a very angry performance, about workplace safety and, frankly, he's a hypocrite, he was crying crocodile tears about this issue.
"Mr Abbott presided over a government that slashed workers' entitlements to safety in the construction industry, that brought in laws that made it harder for unions to police safety on construction sites.
"Mr Abbott put in legislation which has seen an increase in deaths in construction. This is an industry which, on average, loses one worker ... every week."
Four people installing insulation under the Rudd government's $3.7 billion roof insulation program have died on the job. Two died while fitting metal foil insulation, while two died installing pink batts.
Mr Garrett, the minister responsible for the program's rollout, is under increasing political pressure as he fends off accusations he repeatedly ignored safety warnings about the scheme.
Noonan conceded the government had not acted quickly enough when concerns about the safety of insulation workers were first raised by the union in February 2009.
He said the program needed to be halted until a full review was conducted.
"I don't think the government has handled this well at all," he said.
Gillard: Garrett can't be in every roof
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard took followed Kevin Rudd in firm support for Garrett.
Gillard says Garrett cannot be in every roof as insulation is being installed under the federal government's program, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.
Ms Gillard appeared on the Nine Network on Friday, arguing he environment minister cannot be held responsible for the errors made in specific cases.
"Peter Garrett can't be in every roof in this country as insulation is being installed," Ms Gillard told the Nine Network.
"What he does as the minister is he sets the standards.
"From the first day, there were training standards and occupational health and safety standards.
"Now, if they've been breached in a particular job, in a particular roof, then that'll work through and the people responsible for that breach will have to pay the price for that."
Share
