Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews announced a State-supported program to install solar panels on an estimation of 65,00 homes if his Labor Party is re-elected this November. This election campaign announcement immediately reminds voters of the last government-sponsored “green” program, the Home Insulation Scheme which, amongst other results, lead to the deaths five workers.
Unsurprisingly, the (Conservative) Opposition has jumped on the memory link to the disastrous national economic stimulus program. It is a political knee-jerk reaction but illustrates the communication hurdle that Andrews faces. But more than Public Relations, this new program, should it eventuate, will show whether governments are able to learn from the mistakes of previous and other governments, particularly as they relate to occupational health and safety (OHS).