May 12, 2023
Seven South Burnett schools have been named on a list released by the State Government this week of “asbestos incidents” in State Schools in 2022.
Shadow Education Minister Christian Rowan asked Education Minister Grace Grace to provide information about incidents and notifications to parents and caregivers.
Minister Grace said the Education Department had an Asbestos Management Plan to deal with potential or confirmed asbestos-related incidents.
This included notifying parents and caregivers.
In an appendix to her answer to the Question of Notice, Minister Grace provided a 12-page list of more than 550 incidents and the dates when they had been reported.
The South Burnett incidents listed were:
- Blackbutt State School 5/02/2022
- Cherbourg State School 17/03/2022
- Cooyar State School 11/11/2022
- Kingaroy State School 16/02/2022 and 20/11/2022
- Kumbia State School 16/02/2022
- Taabinga State School 22/11/2022
- Yarraman State School 8/06/2022
“It is the department’s policy that written advice is provided to parents and caregivers within 24 hours of an asbestos-related incident occurring, which is managed by the school individually,” Minister Grace said.
The Minister said it was not uncommon for asbestos to be found in Queensland schools built before the 1990s.
“The number of potential asbestos exposures is always concerning; however, it is important to note that not all records in the database are confirmed cases,” she said.
“The department has a comprehensive program for the safe management and removal of asbestos across our schools.
“It is also important to note that the department is rolling out a record infrastructure spend that includes the Cooler Cleaner Schools Program, the Advancing Clean Energy Schools solar
panel program, the Schools Refresh Program as well as extensive repairs and maintenance following flooding events.”
