About 1000 home insulation businesses will get payouts from the federal government in compensation for the early closure of Labor's botched "pink batts" scheme.
But the government is keeping the total amount a secret until all the money is distributed.
"It's hard to find a town or city where a business hasn't been adversely affected by this," Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said in Canberra on Monday, the first day applications for compensation were opened.
"The home insulation program was an unmitigated disaster by the previous Labor government and we need to, as a government, recognise that."
The whole pool of cash set aside for compensation will be paid out no matter how many businesses apply.
About 5000 companies took part in the home insulation program which was part of Labor's response to the global financial crisis.
The government expects about 1000 of them will apply for compensation after taking a financial hit when the scheme was closed early in 2010.
How much each business gets will be decided by accounting firm Deloittes.
Every business seeking compensation will meet with Queen's Counsel Ian Hanger, who conducted the royal commission inquiry into the scheme.
All Businesses will be able to put their case for compensation to Mr Hanger, even those which earlier had been accused of making fraudulent claims.
Applications for compensation are now open and will be taken until July 13.
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