Giving evidence to the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program, Peter Ruz detailed a meeting between industry representatives and public servants on February 18, 2009.

Mr Ruz said he raised the issue of deaths in New Zealand in a similar insulation program.

But he said the chairman, Kevin Keeffe, an assistant secretary in the Environment Department, had discouraged any discussion of that type.

''He [the chairman] just said we note that and move on, '' said Mr Ruz, who was a member of the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Ruz said he ''got a lot of stares from other people''.

''We had been told not to rock the boat during these meetings and I was seen to be rocking the boat,'' he said.

Mr Ruz agreed that the failure to discuss the matter further was to stop debate between manufacturers.

Four installers died and poorly installed insulation caused hundreds of house fires as a result of the $2.8 billion program implemented by the Rudd Government which ran from 2009 to 2010. Three people were electrocuted installing foil insulation. A fourth died of heat exhaustion.

Mr Ruz revealed that early in 2009, during a meeting with industry representatives and a senior public servant, concerns were raised that foil insulation should not be considered due to its lack of performance as ceiling insulation.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett's former adviser Matt Levy also gave evidence to the commission and revealed he could not recall if the minutes of the February 18 meeting, which featured Mr Ruz's warning, were sent to Mr Garrett.

He said he and Mr Garrett were shocked when they learned of the first fatality. Asked by counsel assisting the inquiry Keith Wilson, QC, whether Mr Garrett made any inquiries about overseas programs, Mr Levy said he did not recall.

Mr Levy also revealed the tension between Mr Garrett's office and Senator Mark Arbib, who was co-ordinating government stimulus programs.