Peter Garrett says he has no regrets about his ten-year political career despite being in charge of a home insulation program that led to the deaths of four young men.
Mr Garrett's comments came at the launch of his memoir Big Blue Sky in Sydney on Tuesday, which was attended by fellow rockers Jimmy Barnes and Tim Freedman from The Whitlams.
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"Whatever criticisms I have, and reflections, they don't lessen the great hope and optimism I have for our country and the fact that our institutions have served us well," the former Midnight Oil frontman told reporters.
"Of course everybody can do better, but I have no regrets, at all."
He also said he believed Labor can win the next election under current leader Bill Shorten.
Mr Garrett was praised at the launch by marketing executive and television personality Todd Sampson for putting "his boundless energy and warm heart into many things" over the course of his career.
The former federal cabinet minister was in charge of the Labor government's Home Insulation Program when four installers aged 16-25 died between October 2009 and February 2010.
A 2014 inquiry into the scheme found Mr Garrett was not specifically advised of the risk of injury to installers before the first death.
His book also contains a scathing criticism of former prime minister Kevin Rudd, whom he labels a "megalomaniac" with a "malevolent and punitive personality".
Mr Garrett also admits in the book that he would have stayed in politics if Julia Gillard had remained Labor leader.
A spokesman for Mr Rudd's office has accused Mr Garrett of attacking the former PM so he could sell his book.
