Just three days from
Tasmania’s borders opening, Education Minister Sarah Courtney and the Liberal
Government are yet to adequately inform parents, students, teachers and other
staff how schools will continue to operate once COVID enters the state.
Shadow Education Minister Josh
Willie said Ms Courtney had offered scant information about how the school
system would cope with a Coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Willie called on the government
to release a schools audit undertaken earlier this year but, typically, kept
under wraps.
“Ms Courtney has told
Tasmanian families and educators that she is investing in shade structures for
possible outdoor learning and ventilators for classrooms but she has failed to
deliver comprehensive detail about how schools will be equipped – and that’s
what families and staff want,” Mr Willie said.
“As the school year winds
down, families and teachers are now looking toward Term One of 2022 and they
need specific information about how our school system will cope with the
inevitability of COVID entering Tasmania.
“Why won’t Ms Courtney release
the full school audit so the school community can understand what work needs to
be done, where it needs to be done and when it will be done?
“It’s all very well for Ms
Courtney to repeatedly say we’ll be ready, but the lack of detail is not
providing any assurance.
“Ensuring there aren’t
disruptions to Tasmanian children and their education should be Ms Courtney’s
primary focus and highest priority.”
Mr Willie said it was also
irresponsible of Ms Courtney as the Minister for Children to have allowed the
Liberal Government to so comprehensively drag its feet on establishing a
vaccine mandate for childcare workers.
“It’s not good enough that the
government is only starting to consult with the childcare sector tomorrow ahead
of Wednesday’s border opening.
“Tasmania is now the only
state without a mandate and the government has not explained why has this
crucial move been left so late.
“How
many childcare workers will remain unvaccinated come 15 December?
“Children under the age of five cannot be vaccinated so everything possible needs to be done to ensure they are protected.”
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
