Royal commission into home insulation hears Mark Arbib 'did nothing' after first death

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Former Rudd government minister Peter Garrett will front the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Scheme in Brisbane on Tuesday.

The minister spruiking the home insulation program promised to ring alarm bells if there was any risk of death from the program but did nothing after the first insulation installer died, an inquiry into the program has been told.

The allegation was made during cross-examination of the former Labor senator and minister assisting the prime minister for service delivery, Mark Arbib, during his appearance at the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Scheme in Brisbane on Monday.

Four installers died during the program the first, Matthew Fuller, was electrocuted on October 14, 2009, less than four months after the main program started.

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

Mr Arbib, the first Rudd government minister to appear at the inquiry, had previously given a statement saying he did not have decision-making authority in relation to the program and was not involved in formulating the operational or technical detail a position he reiterated during his evidence to the inquiry.

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He told the inquiry that had he known there was any risk of injury and death to installers from electrocution he would have been spoken to the prime minister and Peter Garrett, and would have been "ringing alarm bells".

Under cross examination by Elizabeth Wilson, representing the family of Rueben Barnes, 16, who died in November 2009 installing insulation, Mr Arbib said the possibility of someone being electrocuted had never been raised to him.

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Royal commission into home insulation hears Mark Arbib 'did nothing' after first death