The critical supply of Rapid Antigen Tests to families and teaching staff must be guaranteed as promised by the government with just seven days to go now until the start of the new school year.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said it was becoming clearer each day that schools were not being supplied with RATs despite the assurances of the government and Acting Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff just yesterday that back to school packs containing RATs had been compiled and were now being distributed.
RAT tests are not ready for distribution yet. By next Tuesday at the latest RAT tests and masks will be available for collection (most likely by a drive-through system). As soon as we receive them, we’ll make them available to you. Cosgrove High School Facebook post today
Mr Willie said schools such as Burnie High were also telling parents they had not been supplied with RATs and were unable to give them out until further notice.
“The Premier and Mr Rockliff need to be providing accurate and honest information about when RATs will be distributed to each and every parent as promised, what stocks are currently available and what stocks will become available in time for the start of school next Wednesday,” Mr Willie said.
“The government has been specific that RATs would be part of the packs parents have been instructed to collect at the same time they collect school books. Now schools are handing out books but not RATs as the Premier promised.
“It’s crucial RATs are available before school starts. In Victoria just today RATs have already detected 150 positive COVID among students and staff as school returned.
“How is it possible that these packs are now being distributed minus the most important ingredient?
“RATs will be critical to detect the COVID virus when it inevitably enters schools.
“Can Mr Rockliff and Mr Gutwein – in the absence of the Education Minister Sarah Courtney who is overseas – guarantee they will have enough to distribute and that they will be distributed to all schools and all students and teachers before the start of school on February 9?”
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
