Time bomb

By Jade Lawton
A BERWICK couple fears their house has become a ticking time bomb, after inexperienced installers bungled their home insulation.
Alex and Jackie Qureitem, both 69, agreed to insulate their home under the Federal Government’s scheme after a doorknocker canvassed the neighbourhood.
A government assessor has since determined the pink batts, installed on 16 January, are a fire risk and need to be removed.
But the Qureitems must trust the company that bungled the original installation to rectify their own mistake.
Jackie said she had been ‘through hell’ trying to get help.
“Someone knocked on my door and he said it needs to be done. He came inside and looked and said, you guys need it (insulation),” she said.
“Then two guys came, but the way they did it was not professional. They dragged the insulation across the floor. They were here maybe 40 minutes.”
Alex supplied the young men with rubber gloves and masks as they did not have their own.
After hearing of the fire risks associated with the scheme, Jackie rang the government hotline and asked for an assessor to check her home.
In an inspection last week, the assessor found the batts had been ripped in half and were covering electrical wires, posing a fire risk. He recommended the insulation be removed immediately.
But a cover letter on the report says the couple must contact the original company and ask them to remove the dodgy insulation.
“I’m not trying to be difficult, but I don’t trust him any more,” Jackie said.
“We are in a shambles. I’m really worried.
“Mr Rudd, I know he was trying to help the economy, but he has to be more organised. He has put us through hell.”
La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the couple’s problem was not an isolated one.
“The whole scheme has been a debacle from start to finish. It’s going to end up costing billions. Locally, we can’t get the funding for Clyde Road, but money is being wasted on this,” Mr Wood said.
Mr Wood said some companies had taken advantage of the scheme, which was scrapped last month.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett said last month the government was prepared to check as many houses as was necessary.
Householders that are concerned about the safety of insulation installed under the Home Insulation Program can now call the safety line on 131 792.