Unions want safety focus for batts inquiry A royal commission into the Rudd government's home insulation scheme is set to begin in Brisbane. UNIONS are urging the royal commission into deaths and injuries linked to the Rudd government's home insulation scheme to consider national industrial manslaughter laws. The ACTU has warned the royal commission must not become a "political witch hunt." The royal commission, led by barrister and commercial dispute resolution practitioner Ian Hanger, QC, starts on Monday in Brisbane. Four men died while working on the roll-out of the so-called "pink batts" scheme, set up in 2009. Three of the men were Queenslanders: Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes and Mitchell Sweeney. The fourth, Marcus Wilson, was from NSW. Mr Rudd and former environment minister Peter Garrett could be called as witnesses by the inquiry, The Australian reported on Monday. The details around which witnesses will be summoned are yet to be released, but the newspaper reports the commission has been allocated funds to provide legal counsel to former ministers. Establishing the royal commission to inquire into the deaths was an election promise from the coalition government. ACTU assistant secretary Michael Borowick said the inquiry's sole focus should be worker safety. "The community has no appetite for a costly political witch hunt at the expense of constructive outcomes on safety for workers," he said on Monday. The ACTU calls on the Royal Commission to recommend the introduction of industrial manslaughter legislation, tougher penalties for employers that breach existing legislation and increased resources for regulators. He believes industrial manslaughter laws - making it a crime when an employer's action or inaction causes a worker's death - could change community attitudes to reckless negligence in workplaces. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has also written to the government asking that the royal commission focus on workplace safety. The inquiry will also investigate the effect the program had on the reputation and profits of long-standing home insulation businesses. The father of Reuben Barnes, who died after installing insulation near Rockhampton, is seeking answers rather than compensation, the family's lawyer says. "Murray Barnes wants answers," lawyer Bill Potts told ABC Radio. He wants answers not to blame people and not to enter into some sort of cry for compensation. What Murray Barnes wants is there to be recommendations and information to come out of this commission. Mr Hanger has until June 30 next year to provide a report of his findings and recommendations.