They lost the Brisbane home they built, their small business and the chance of a comfortable, carefree retirement.
Six years on from the wind-up of Labor's botched "pink batts" scheme, Queensland couple Colin and Erica Thomsen are still picking up the pieces of their shattered lives.
The home installation business they started in 1991 went into liquidation and with it $1.3 million.
Now they are grappling with a second devastating blow.
Because their business is no longer registered they are ineligible to make a claim under the federal government's industry payment scheme, a royal commission recommendation.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
There are hundreds of other people in the same boat.
The Thomsens made a tearful plea to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for adequate redress.
"Give us what is fair and reasonable," Mr Thomsen, 66, told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"I want to put a roof over my wife's head (again)."
Mrs Thomsen, 60, said the couple were forced to put retirement plans on hold while they work hard just to get back to the secure financial position they enjoyed previously.
"I'd just like to get back to where we were before," she said, eyes filled with tears.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon slammed the government for spending more on lawyers for the royal commission than on the victims.
"This is an omelette, it's an utter disgrace," he told reporters.
"These people are innocent victims in what has now become a political football."
Senator Xenophon flagged that he would seek a meeting with Mr Turnbull about the matter.
Lawyer Karen Stott, who has been representing business owner victims, said the government was only making token payments which did not reflect overall losses.
Victims were in an unfair bargaining position and not allowed legal representation in order to apply for the grants, she said.
