Home insulation inquiry: Mark Arbib concedes program rolled out too quickly

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The family of deceased insulation installer Mitchell Sweeney are "very interested" to hear how much Peter Garrett and Kevin Rudd knew about the botched scheme.

Former Labor senator Mark Arbib says federal governments should leave service delivery to the states and shy away from rolling out programs such as the home insulation scheme.

Mr Arbib returned to the witness box for the royal commission investigating the Rudd government's controversial $2.8 billion Home Insulation Program, for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

He conceded he was shocked by the lack of training and supervision of a teen who died while installing insulation.

And the former parliamentary secretary admitted the program may have been rolled out too quickly, but blamed public servants for failing to warn him and other ministers about the risks to installers working in roof cavities.

Former Labor senator Mark Arbib said he did not have decision-making authority in relation to the program. Photo: Andrew Meares

Under heated cross-examination from Gold Coast-based lawyer Bill Potts, Mr Arbib conceded service delivery was best handled by state governments.

"My view, from being involved and seeing it first hand, [is] federal government is not a government service delivery agency," Mr Arbib said.

"State governments work day in, day out in service delivery and wherever possible, programs of this kind should be left to them."

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Home insulation inquiry: Mark Arbib concedes program rolled out too quickly