Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called on the federal government to launch a judicial inquiry into its school infrastructure and home insulation programs.
Mr Abbott says the inquiry should be established immediately, and required to report back by the time parliament sits in August.
He says both programs were rolled out in the second phase of the government's fiscal stimulus package and it's now obvious that both have involved rip-offs.
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Written request
Mr Abbott, flanked by education spokesman Christopher Pyne and Senator George Brandis, says he will be writing to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to request the inquiry.
"What's become obvious as the second stimulus package has unfolded is that it has involved rip-off after rip-off," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
"If the prime minister is serious about demonstrating that he can be trusted with public money, he will initiate such an inquiry."
Mr Abbott said the public deserved to know whether proper procedures were followed in relation to the programs, and if they were value for money.
'Waste of taxpayers' money'
"It's very important that Australia avoid a recession but even a cause as important (as that) does not justify waste of taxpayers' money," he said.
Mr Abbott said there would be consequences if Mr Rudd refused to hold a judicial inquiry into the insulation and school infrastructure schemes.
"The public will be entitled to conclude that you just can't trust Labor with money," he said.
