Today the Supreme Court of Victoria published its judgment in a class action against the Commonwealth of Australia arising out of the termination of the Home Insulation Program (HIP) of the Rudd Government.
The HIP encouraged householders to have roof insulation installed by offering installation free of charge – with the Commonwealth reimbursing the full cost. Installers, manufacturers and suppliers brought an action for reimbursement of the financial loss suffered as a result of the sudden and premature termination of the HIP in February 2009. The plaintiffs failed on all their causes of action. Philip Williams of Frontier Economics was called by the Commonwealth to give evidence as to the magnitude of the loss. The plaintiffs failed to persuade the court that they had suffered any loss or that, if there were a loss, it was caused by any actionable conduct of the Commonwealth.
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