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Source: Updated economic and fiscal outlook.[16]
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), out of a total of 8.2 million homes in Australia in 2008, 5.1 million had some form of insulation installed, 1.6 million were entirely without insulation, and occupants of the remainder (1.6 million) did not know whether their home was insulated. In total, 61 per cent of homes were known to be insulated, up from 52 per cent in 1994. Of the different dwelling types, detached or separate houses were most likely to be insulated (70 per cent), compared to semi-detached or town houses (49 per cent) and apartments (22 per cent). The proportion of occupants who did not know whether their home was insulated was much higher in apartments (48 per cent) than semi-detached (31 per cent) or detached houses (13 per cent).
Of the insulated homes, 98 per cent had roof or ceiling insulation. In households without insulation, the main reason given for not installing insulation (accounting for 34 per cent of respondents) was that the occupier was not the owner or not responsible for the home. A further 17 per cent identified cost as the main barrier to installation.[17]
The ABS reports that 46 per cent of Australian households have electric hot water systems, while 37 per cent are gas and 7 per cent solar (11 per cent were unaware of their hot water energy source). Eighty per cent of solar hot water systems use an electric booster.[18]
The Government states that under the Energy Efficient Homes Package:[19]
The Clean Energy Council states that the proposed measures could cut electricity bills by at least 15-20 per cent.[20] It is estimated that roof and ceiling insulation can save up to 35 per cent on energy consumption for heating of homes (wall insulation can save an additional 20 per cent).[21] The energy savings depend on the climate zone of the dwelling, and may be lower in areas that experience lower extremes in temperature.
Although space cooling accounts for only a few per cent of total residential energy consumption, the high demand at peak periods on hot summer days across cities presented by use of air conditioning can create severe problems for electricity generation and transmission and distribution systems. The ABS reports that the number of households using air conditioning more than doubled from 1994 (2.1 million homes or 33 per cent) to 2008 (5.5 million homes or 66 per cent),[22] while the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) projects space cooling to grow at a rate of 16 per cent per annum from 1990 to 2020.[23] The addition of adequate insulation in uninsulated homes is expected to reduce summer peak electricity demand by mitigating the need for and use of air conditioners.
Energy used for residential space heating accounts for about 42 per cent of total residential energy use and is expected to amount to an average of about 184 petajoules (PJ) or 51 terawatt-hours (TWh, 1012 Wh) per year over the next decade.[24] Approximately 35 per cent of households use electric heating sources, while 31 per cent use gas and 10 per cent wood.[25] The International Energy Agency reports that in 2005, Australia’s CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production from coal-fired plants were 990 grams per kilowatt-hour (kWh); and from gas-fired plants were 627 grams per kWh.[26] Neglecting the transport contribution, emissions from wood-fired heaters can be considered to be near zero since they are offset by the carbon absorbed by the trees during their growth. If the addition of ceiling insulation in 2.7 million or 33 per cent of households reduces their energy consumption for heating by 35 per cent, then accounting for the relative proportion of electric and gas heat sources and their related emissions, this may therefore roughly translate to a total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of about 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year, or 30 million tonnes of CO2 over a ten year timeframe.
Further emissions reductions may be achieved from use of solar energy for water heating. Water heating represents about 23 per cent of household energy consumption. Solar systems provide between 50 per cent and 90 per cent of hot water through solar energy, with the remainder requiring use of an electricity or gas booster. Greenhouse gas emissions from energy used in water heating depend on the climate zone as well as the energy source (even among electric systems, emissions vary between locations due to different primary energy sources used in electricity generation, such as coal, gas or hydro). For example, for electric hot water systems in medium-sized households, average emissions amount to about 4.1 tonnes per year in Brisbane, and 5.8 tonnes per year in Melbourne. In contrast, equivalent emissions from solar hot water systems with gas boosters are 0.2 tonnes per year in Brisbane and 0.5 tonnes per year in Melbourne. Emissions from solar systems with electric boosters range from 0.4 tonnes per year in Brisbane to 1.4 tonnes per year in Melbourne. Solar hot water systems have a longer lifetime than electric systems and the payback period for the investment through energy savings ranges from 5 to 10 years.[27]
The Government has not provided an estimate of the expected rate of uptake of the solar hot water rebate; however, the additional funding allocated is sufficient for about 320 000 rebates from now until June 2012. Assuming replacement of an electric water heater with a solar water heater saves about 3 tonnes per solar system, this investment may result in a reduction in emissions of about 0.3 million tonnes per year, or 3 million tonnes over a ten-year period.
Insulation has been shown to reduce the incidence of respiratory illnesses. In a New Zealand study, households in which at least one person exhibited symptoms of respiratory illness were selected from low-income communities to be retrofitted with ceiling insulation to examine its effect on the incidence of respiratory illness and comfort level during winter.[28] The results demonstrated significant health benefits from insulation:
The study found insulation resulted in a 30% reduction in the frequency with which occupants were exposed to temperatures below 10 degrees C; mean relative humidity causing dampness, down by 3.8%, and decreased energy consumption with insulated houses used 81% of energy of non-insulated. The last factor may also result in greater disposable income, which can be spent on food and clothes.
These results show significant improvements (10 - 11%) in the health and quality of life of the occupants. Importantly it was reported that adults and children have reduced wheezing, colds and respiratory problems (40 - 50% reduction). People living in insulated houses are also less likely to take days off work and school (40 - 50% reduction) than people in houses without insulation. There were also fewer visits to GPs and fewer hospital admissions for respiratory conditions.[29]
Insulation has also been shown to reduce the health and mortality risks that extreme warm temperatures or heat waves present to the elderly or people with pre-existing medical conditions. A study of risk factors for death of elderly people during the August 2003 heat wave in Europe found that:
Housing characteristics associated with death were lack of thermal insulation and sleeping on the top floor, right under the roof… In the long term, building insulation and urban planning must be adapted to provide protection from possible heat waves.[30]
The Government estimates the cost of installing ceiling insulation in an average-sized house to be around $1200.[31] Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) agrees that $1600 should be sufficient to cover the costs of installing ceiling insulation in all but the largest of homes.[32] ICANZ President Dennis D’Arcy welcomed the plan, saying it could create 4000 new jobs in the insulation and manufacturing industries. He said:
We see it as a great stimulus in an industry that is suffering a bit at the moment as people aren’t building the same number of new houses as they were 12 months ago.[33]
Concern has been expressed about the capacity of the industry to meet the expected increase in demand for insulation with the package. However, Mr D’Arcy has said that training for installers requires only a six hour course, and business groups expect that the industry will expand accordingly. For example, Bradford Insulation group have a newly commissioned plant in Brisbane, and marketing manager Ray Thompson said this plant would immediately move to 24/7 production, with new jobs being created.[34]
Peter Ruz, the national marketing manager for Australia’s biggest insulation service, Fletcher Insulation, said that until now, fewer than 50 000 old homes were being fitted with insulation per year. He said that Fletcher Insulation had laid off 20 workers at its Melbourne plant last December, but it hopes to reverse that decision in the light of the insulation package.[35] Plans to cut jobs at its Sydney facility would also be dropped. Mr Ruz also suggested that the company may need to build another manufacturing plant to meet demand.[36]
The Clean Energy Council has noted that most insulation and solar hot water systems sold in Australia are also manufactured in Australia, which means that the proposed investment would stay in Australia. It endorsed the plan as a smart energy solution that would help to protect thousands of Australian manufacturing jobs while saving energy and benefiting the environment. Chief executive officer Matthew Warren said:
The government is to be congratulated for taking a big first step towards delivering energy savings across Australian households. Insulation saves energy, money, jobs and the environment – so it’s a win-win-win-win.[37]
Green groups welcome the energy efficiency measures, but say they are insufficient to effectively address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Australian Conservation Foundation executive director Don Henry noted:
Insulation is a good step for household energy efficiency but it should be part of a broader package that includes massive investment in public transport and tax reform to encourage greener commercial buildings.[38]
Greenpeace head of campaigns Steve Campbell also expressed reservations, saying:
Whilst it is a good baby step, it is still tinkering around the edges and it’s not enough to deal with the climate crisis.[39]
Consumer organisation Choice said the package did not go far enough in promoting energy conservation:
It is a positive start in assisting households with energy efficiency, but we’d like to see the government commit to a much broader package that helps consumers reduce their energy consumption, that works with industry to improve the energy performance of our homes and the products we buy.[40]
In the context of emission trading, the Australia Institute has criticised the emissions reduction value of household energy conservation measures, saying that the design of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme merely shifts the emissions elsewhere.[41] Executive director of the Australia Institute Richard Denniss said:
The way the Emissions Trading Scheme is designed, every kilogram of emissions saved by a household frees up an extra permit for a big polluter. So while it’s true this scheme will help reduce households’ use of energy, it won’t reduce Australia’s emissions at all. What they do is take those permits freed up by what the individuals have done and sell those permits to the aluminium industry or the steel industry or anyone else who wants them.[42]
On 4 February 2009, in a speech to the House of Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, set out the Coalition’s position on the Plan in general and the insulation element in particular. The following are excerpts from that speech.
Our judgement is that a more appropriate level of stimulus is in the order of 1½ to two per cent of GDP, or between $15 billion and $20 billion … We do not support a further round of cash handouts… The incentives to save rather than to spend are therefore a lot greater. So we would support as an alternative the bringing forward of the 1 July 2010 tax cuts to 1 January this year … We would welcome a renewal, indeed acceleration, of the Investing in Our Schools Program. However, we have to ask this question: is the most urgent infrastructure deficiency requirement in Australia primary school assembly halls and libraries? What about hospitals? What about nursing homes and aged care? What indeed about the National Broadband Network? What about water infrastructure, and what about expanding, and above all maintaining, our National Transmission Network? … In an indication of the specific responses we would bring to this plan, we would support a renewed Investing in Our Schools Program. Based on our experience, we believe that $3 billion over three years could be, and would be, well spent and, depending on demand, and of course on the economic conditions, consideration can always be given to allocating more funding …We believe an element of a stimulus package should be that it lowers the cost of employing Australians. A key focus should be making it easier to keep Australians in their jobs, especially for small business. The proposed accelerated investment allowance has some merit, but a small business which is struggling with declining revenues would be better off with additional cash flow that it can deploy as it sees fit. We want to discuss practical measures with the government that will put cash into the hands of small businesses. One proposal which we have seen and which has considerable merit would be for the Commonwealth to cover, for a period, a portion of the superannuation guarantee levy. Appropriately costed within the framework of a more prudent stimulus, this would provide support for small business, lower the cost of employment and provide an incentive across the board to every small business.
Insulation, however, is an energy efficiency measure that pays for itself, and government subsidies for insulation should recognise that. The $1,600 subsidy will, according to Mr Peter Ruz of Fletcher Insulation, who is quoted in the newspapers today, mean that over 90 per cent of jobs would be completed at no cost to the owner. The subsidy is not means tested. We would support an insulation subsidy of a lower amount, and I would suggest for the government’s consideration one that is, for example, $500 for all houses, increasing to $1,000 subject to a means test. That would reduce the cost of the measure considerably but remain a very significant incentive to the insulation industry. A similar approach could be taken to solar hot water ... [43]
The Australian Greens welcomed the planned investment in education, community and defence housing and energy efficiency programs, and claimed that the Rudd Government had adopted part of the Greens’ plan to retrofit homes to reduce energy consumption. Senator Bob Brown pledged that the Greens would ensure that school buildings and community housing are designed to be energy efficient. Senator Brown also said that the package should also include a permanent $30 a week increase to people on income support, including aged pensioners and the unemployed. Senator Brown also pledged that the Greens would move to ensure the needs of people who have missed out in this package are addressed in the May budget.[44]
Family First Senator, Steve Fielding, reportedly backs the Plan but wants $4 billion set aside to create 100,000 jobs in local communities.[45] Senator Fielding has called for more money for the unemployed.[46]
Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon, has questioned how the money would be spent. He is quoted as saying:
When you have a number of leading commentators saying that we should be looking at fixing at the Murray Darling Basin for instance, spending the money on fundamental infrastructure that will improve productive capacity in the economy. That's the sort of thing that needs to be considered.
Senator Xenophon has also questioned why rich private schools are getting millions of dollars:
The need can't be shown on any objective basis.[47]
Section 83 of the Constitution provides that no monies may be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund except ‘under an appropriation made by law’. Laws authorising spending are either:
The Bill is an annual appropriation Bill for ordinary services (see below).
Special appropriations—which account for about three quarters of spending—are spending authorised by Acts for particular purposes. An example is age pensions, carer payments, and the seniors concession allowance paid under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999. The remaining quarter of spending is funded by annual appropriations.
Section 54 of the Constitution requires that there be a separate law appropriating funds for the ordinary annual services of the government. That is why there are separate Bills for ordinary annual services and for other annual services. The distinction between ordinary and other annual services was set out in a ‘Compact’ between the Senate and the Government in 1965 (the Compact was updated to take account of the adoption of accrual budgeting). Appropriation Bill (No. 1) is introduced with the Budget and appropriates funds for the ‘ordinary annual services of the Government’. Appropriation Bill (No. 2)—which is also introduced with the Budget—appropriates funds for other annual services. A third Appropriation Bill—Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill No. 1—funds the parliamentary departments.
Section 53 of the Constitution provides that the Senate may not amend proposed laws appropriating revenue or moneys for the ordinary annual services of the government. The Senate may, however, return to the House of Representatives any such proposed laws requesting, by message, the omission or amendment of any items or provisions therein.
Departmental expenses (outputs) are costs incurred in running agencies, for example, salaries, depreciation and other day-to-day operating expenses. Administered expenses (items) are the costs of providing the programs that agencies administer. While most administered expenses are funded through special appropriations, some are funded through the Appropriation Bills. The Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme is an example of an administered expense funded as an ordinary annual service.
Departmental outputs and administered expenses contribute to outcomes. Outcomes are the results or consequences for the community that the government wishes to achieve. An example, in the Attorney-General’s portfolio, is:
An equitable and accessible system of federal civil justice.[48]
It is sometimes the case that an appropriation for a departmental expense exceeds what is needed. However, departmental items do not automatically lapse if they are not spent. In these circumstances, a ‘reduction process’ to extinguish the unspent amount is available. Under this process, on request in writing from a minister, the Finance Minister may issue a determination to reduce the agency’s departmental expenses appropriation. In short, the excess of the amount allocated over the amount expended can be extinguished.
Appropriations for administered expenses are also subject to an annual process to extinguish amounts that are not required. The amount identified as spending on administered expenses in agencies’ financial statements—as published in their annual reports—is the basis for this process. In short, the amount of the reduction is the difference between the amount appropriated and the amount spent as shown in the agency’s financial statements.
Most of the provisions in the Bill are virtually identical to those in the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2008-09.[49] The main difference between the Bill and Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2008-09 is that the Bill does not contain the provisions dealing with the Advance to the Finance Minister.
Clause 3 contains definitions. It defines Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimates Statements to mean the Portfolio Supplementary Estimates Statements that were tabled in the Senate or the House of Representatives in relation to the bill for this Act and the Bill for the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Act (No. 2) 2008-09.
Clause 4 provides that the Portfolio Budget Statements, Portfolio Supplementary Estimates Statements, Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, and Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimates Statements are relevant documents for the purposes of section 15AB of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.[50]
Clause 6—Summary of appropriations states the total of the items specified in Schedule 1 is $89 000 000. Schedule 1 lists the agencies that are to be funded, the amount of funding, and whether the item is departmental or administered.
Clause 8 deals with ‘administered items’. Subclause 8(1) confirms that if an amount is specified as an administered item for an outcome, then money can be expended to achieve that outcome. Subclause 8(2) provides that where the Portfolio Budget Statements, Portfolio Supplementary Estimates Statements, Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements or Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimates Statements Portfolio Statements indicate that an activity is for a particular outcome, the amount in the administered item is taken to contribute towards the achievement of that outcome.
A CAC Act Body is a Commonwealth authority or company within the meaning of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (the CAC Act) [51]. Clause 9 deals with a ‘CAC Act body payment item’. This is the total amount set out in Schedule 1 of the Bill in relation to a CAC Act Body. The Bill does not, however, appropriate any new money for a CAC Act Body.
As noted, a process exists whereby appropriations for departmental expenses that are not needed can be abolished. Clause 10—Reducing departmental items contains this process. Subclause 10(1) specifies who can request reductions in departmental expenses. Paragraph 10(1)(a) empowers the Minister for an agency to ask the Finance Minister to reduce a departmental item for that agency, while paragraph 10(1)(b) enables the Chief Executive of an agency, for which the Finance Minister is responsible, to ask the Finance Minister to reduce a departmental item for that agency. Subclause 10(2) specifies that the Finance Minister may make a determination reducing a departmental item by the amount in the request. Subclause 10(3) provides that the determination will have no effect to the extent that it would reduce the departmental item below nil.
Clause 11—Reducing administered items contains the process for extinguishing appropriations for administered items that are not needed. Subclause 11(1) provides that if the amount shown in the financial statements of an agency’s annual report shows that the expensed amount of an administered item is less than the amount appropriated for that item, then the amount of the reduction is the difference between the appropriated amount and the amount in the annual report. Subclause 11(2) enables the Finance Minister to determine that an amount, published in the financial statements of an agency, is taken to be the amount specified in his or her determination, while paragraph 11(2)(b) ensures that the amount published in the annual report can be corrected. Subclause 11(3) provides that the Finance Minister’s determination, made under subclause 11(2), is a legislative instrument, that section 42 (relating to disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003[52] applies to the determination, but that Part 6 (relating to sunsetting provisions) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 does not apply to the determination. In short, this means that the Finance Minister’s determinations are disallowable by Parliament, but once made, will not expire.
Clause 12 contains the process for reducing CAC Act body payments. This is almost identical to that for departmental items (clause 10). One difference is that whereas paragraph 10(1)(b) enables the Chief Executive of an agency, for which the Finance Minister is responsible, to ask the Finance Minister to reduce a departmental item for that agency, paragraph 12(1)(b) enables the Secretary of the Department for which the Finance Minister is responsible to request a reduction for a CAC Act body. The reason for this difference is that payments to CAC Act bodies are channelled through the relevant portfolio departments. Subclause 12(2) empowers the Finance Minister to make a determination reducing a CAC Act body payment by the amount requested. Subclause 12(5) provides that subclause 9(2) does not limit the reduction of a CAC Act body payment under this section.
It is uncertain to what extent the Plan will stimulate the economy because there are so many unknowns. For example, we do not know how much of the Tax Bonus for Working Australians will be saved as distinct from spent on consumption. At a time when households are generally limiting borrowings or even reducing debt levels, some (unknown) portion of the tax cuts will be saved. The higher the proportion of the tax cuts saved, the smaller the multiplier effects discussed above. Even where the tax cuts are spent on consumption, some will ‘leak’ into imports depending on the (unknown) proportion of consumption that is spent on tradeable—as distinct from non-tradeable—goods and services. Timing will also be crucial in that the effects of the Plan on the economy will depend on how soon the measures can be implemented.
Members, Senators and
Parliamentary staff can obtain further information from the Parliamentary
Library on (02) 6277 2464.
[1]. Hon. Kevin Rudd (Prime Minister), $42 Billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan, media release, 3 February 2009, at http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2009/media_release_0784.cfm. Accessed 9 February 2009. A comprehensive document, Updated Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which deals with the Plan is on the Australian Government Budget website at http://www.budget.gov.au/2008-09/content/uefo/download/Combined_UEFO.pdf. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[2]. Hon. Kevin Rudd (Prime Minister), and Hon. Wayne Swan (Treasurer), Economic Security Strategy, joint press release, 14 October 2008, at http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2008/media_release_0550.cfm. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[3]. Hon. Kevin Rudd (Prime Minister), $4.7 billion Nation Building Package, media release 12 December 2008, at http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2008/media_release_0687.cfm. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[4]. Council of Australian Governments, Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations, Communiqué, 29 November 2008, at http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2008-11-29/. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[5]. Updated Economic and Fiscal Outlook February 2009, Statement by the Hon. Wayne Swan (Treasurer) and the Hon. Lindsay Tanner (minister for Finance and Deregulation), 3 February 2009, at http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2009/media_release_0784.cfm. Accessed 6 February 2009.
[6]. Second reading speech, Appropriation (National Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2008-09.
[7]. Bills Digest No. 93, Parliamentary Library, 2008-09. See http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/bd/2008-09/09bd093.pdf
[8]. Transcript of a press briefing on the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report, 28 January 2009, at http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2009/tr012809.htm. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[9]. ‘Big
Government fights back’ The Economist, 31 January 2009, at
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13035552.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[10]. A. Alesina, S. Ardagna, R. Perotti and F. Schiantarelli, ‘Fiscal Policy, Profits and Investment’, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 7027, July 1999, p.27.
[11]. O. Blanchard and R. Perotti, ‘An Empirical Characterization of the Dynamic Effects of Changes in Government Spending and Taxes on Output’, Quarterly Journal of Economics, volume 117, no. 4, November 2002, p. 1364. Olivier Blanchard is currently the chief economist and the International Monetary Fund.
[12] ibid., p. 1329.
[13]. A. Mountford and H. Uhlig, ‘What are the Effects of Fiscal Policy Shocks?’, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No.14551, December 2008, pp. 20–21.
[14]. Financial wealth refers to things like bank deposits and other highly liquid assets/investments.
[15]. Hon. Kevin
Rudd (Prime Minister), ‘Energy Efficient Homes – Ceiling Insulation in 2.7
Million Homes’, media release, 3 February 2009, at http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2009/media_release_0783.cfm;
Hon. Wayne Swan (Treasurer), ‘The Energy Efficient Homes Program’, Fact
Sheet: 2009 Updated economic and fiscal outlook, Australian Government, at http://www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=factsheets/
2009/010.htm&pageID=011&min=wms&Year=&DocType=3.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[16]. Hon. Wayne Swan (Treasurer) and the Hon. Lindsay Tanner (Minister for Finance and Deregulation), Updated Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2008–2009, Canberra, 3 February 2009, at http://www.budget.gov.au/2008-09/content/uefo/download/Combined_UEFO.pdf. Accessed 6 February 2009.
[17]. Australian
Bureau of Statistics, Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation,
Catalogue No. 4602.0.55.001, March 2008, at http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/
4602.0.55.001Main+Features1Mar%202008?OpenDocument.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[18]. ibid., Table 3.11.
[19]. Hon. Wayne Swan (Treasurer), ‘The Energy Efficient Homes Program’, op. cit.
[20]. Clean Energy Council, ‘Insulation package: finally some green jobs for Australia’, News article, 3 February 2009, http://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/news/showarticle.php?id=176. Accessed 6 February 2009.
[21]. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, ‘Home heating and cooling’, Australian Government, at http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/gwci/heat.html. Accessed 5 February 2009.
[22]. Australian Bureau of Statistics, op. cit., Table 4.11.
[23]. Department
of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Energy use in the
Australian residential sector 1986-2020, Australian Government, 2008, at http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/
energyefficiency/buildings/publications/energyuse.html.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[24]. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, op. cit.
[25]. Australian Bureau of Statistics, op. cit., Table 3.9.
[26]. International Energy Agency, CO2 emissions from fuel combustion 1971-2005, IEA/OECD, 2007.
[27]. Your
Home: Technical Manual, Fourth edition, Australian Government, 2008, at
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/index.html.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[28]. ‘Housing, insulation and health study’, School of Medicine and Health Science, University of Otago, at http://www.wnmeds.ac.nz/academic/dph/research/housing/insulation.html. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[29]. ‘NZ Research
Shows Insulating Houses Results in Better Health’, News at Otago, 5
March 2007, at
http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/2007/05-03-07_press_release.html.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[30]. S. Vandentorren, et al., ‘August 2003 Heat Wave in France: Risk Factors for Death of Elderly People Living at Home’, European Journal of Public Health, vol. 16, pp. 583-591, abstract at: http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/6/583. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[31]. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, ‘Energy Efficient Homes Package: Insulating Australian Households’, Australian Government, at http://www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/insulation.html. Accessed 5 February 2009.
[32]. ‘Free ceiling
insulation for all homes’, Trading Room, Fairfax Digital, 3 February
2009, at http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/
published/2009/2/34/catf_090203_193400_8450.html.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[33]. H. Westerman, ‘Stimulus plan: insulation plan to create 4000 jobs’, My Small Business, theage.com.au, 4 February 2009, at http://smallbusiness.theage.com.au/growing/finance/stimulus-plan:-insulation-plan-to-create-4000-jobs-907016909.html. Accessed 6 February 2009.
[34]. J.
Stapleton, ‘Insulation industry hopes trade goes through the roof’, The
Australian, 5 February 2009, at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/
pressclp/0BPS6/upload_binary/0bps60.pdf;fileType%3Dapplication%2Fpdf.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[35]. ibid.
[36]. J. Breusch,
‘Factories flat out’, Australian Financial Review, 5 February 2009, at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressclp/
TCPS6/upload_binary/tcps60.pdf;fileType=application/pdf#search=%22insulation%22.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[37]. Clean Energy Council, op. cit.
[38]. S. Peatling,
‘Government plans insulation blitz’, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 February
2009, at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/
pressclp/OVOS6/upload_binary/ovos60.pdf;fileType=application/
pdf#search=%22insulation%22.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[39]. ‘Free
ceiling insulation for all homes’, Trading Room, Fairfax Digital, 3
February 2009, at http://www.tradingroom.com.au/apps/view_breaking_news_article.ac?page=/data/news_research/
published/2009/2/34/catf_090203_193400_8450.html.
Accessed 6 February 2009.
[40]. V. Coleman
(Choice policy officer), ‘Energy efficient homes package a good start’, Media
Release, Choice, 5 February 2009, at http://choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=106717&catId=100570&tid=100028&p=1&title=
Energy+efficient+homes+package+a+good+start.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[41]. R. Denniss, ‘Household emissions reduction pointless under emissions trading scheme’, Media Release, 25 November 2008, at https://www.tai.org.au/file.php?file=mr_ets_floor.pdf. Accessed 6 February 2009.
[42]. ‘Insulation scheme won’t reduce emissions: Australia Institute’, ABC News, 5 February 2009, at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/05/2483104.htm. Accessed 6 February 2009.
[43]. Malcolm Turnbull, House of Representatives, ‘Second Reading Speech’, Debates, 4 February 2009, p. 12, at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2009-02-04/0037/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf. Accessed 9 February 2009.
[44]. Australian
Greens website, ‘Greens welcome money for insulation and schools’, 3 February
2009, at
http://greens.org.au/node/4985.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[45]. Special
Broadcasting Service, World News Australia, 9 February 2009, at
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1008116/Stimulus-package-needs-votes.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[46]. Australian
Broadcasting Corporation, ‘Xenophon questions stimulus focus’, at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/07/2484930.htm.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[47]. Australian
Broadcasting Corporation, ‘Xenophon questions stimulus focus’, at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/07/2484930.htm.
Accessed 9 February 2009.
[48]. Attorney-General’s Portfolio, Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2008-09, p. 10.
[49]. The Bills
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[51]. Available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/
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[52]. Available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Management.nsf/
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