Peter Garrett Speech Overshadowed By Labor Woes

Peter Garrett's keynote speech at the Australian Institute Of Music's TILT conference has been dominated by his political career and the recent coroner's report into the death of insulation workers while Peter Garrett was Minister.

His keynote speech focussed on Labor's education reform as the former Midnight Oil frontman stressed the importance of the creative industries embracing the growing Asian markets.

He said that young creatives, “need knowledge of Asian culture and languages." Garrett added, "And with digital technology you need to be ahead of the pack."

Garrett resigned from his ministerial post and opted to not contest the next Federal election after Labor's leadership spill last week and he said he had no regrets about his decision.

“But it has made me reflect on time and how important it is to wring the most out of every day,” he said. “The period when you're a young person just out of school… that creative impulse when its nourished can create great things.”

During a brief press conference following the formal keynote, Garrett addressed the recent coroner's report which was critical of the Government's handling of the insulation program before departing.