Teachers threaten to strike over asbestos

15 Nov 2010, 6:56 pm   -   Source: AAP
Share This

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says it's regrettable a school community wasn't told about an asbestos find but denies there's been a cover-up.

Three unions are threatening industrial action amid fears staff at a north Queensland school were exposed to asbestos.

The threat comes after Queensland Premier Anna Bligh admitted that an asbestos scare at another school north of Brisbane was handled badly.

The Queensland Teachers Union (QTU), the Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU) and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) are threatening industrial action if the government does not remove asbestos from buildings at Atherton State High School, southwest of Cairns.

A staff room at the school is at the centre of the asbestos scare.

The room, which is listed in Education Queensland's asbestos register as having asbestos material, has had work done to its ceiling.

QPSU spokesman Kevin O'Sullivan said a computer wireless network was installed into the ceiling of the room about 18 months ago.

As a result, fibres from the ceiling, believed to be asbestos, were disturbed, Mr O'Sullivan said.

"Someone has drilled holes in the ceiling and left them open and it's believed asbestos fibres have been falling down on people," he told AAP on Monday.

"But none of this would have happened if the guidelines were followed."

Education Queensland says it restricted access to the room in late October, asbestos tests on the dust were conducted last week and the dust has been professionally cleaned.

LHMU spokesman Heath Mitchell said cleaners and staff at the school were exposed to the dust before it was professionally cleaned.

"We've had members of ours, it's undetermined what it was, have dust particles fall on them and around them and on computers and of course our cleaners come in every day and dutifully vacuum everything up," Mr Mitchell told AAP on Monday.

"They empty out bags of this dust. We are very concerned about the health and wellbeing of our members."

Mr Mitchell said his union's members were also concerned about having washed their clothes with their family's - possibly spreading asbestos fibres.

QTU spokeswoman Maureen Duffy told AAP that Education Queensland has been given until next Monday to explain the situation and to guarantee the removal of all asbestos at the school.

If they don't, she said union members will hold a vote on Tuesday on whether to take industrial action.

Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Education Minister Geoff Wilson both said on Monday the decision not to tell students, parents and staff of the discovery of asbestos at another school was regrettable.

Asbestos was found in August 2008 in mulch around a new walkway that linked two campuses of Redcliffe State High School, north of Brisbane.

Education Queensland said it chose to not inform the community after expert advice told them it was "bonded asbestos" which posed no danger to people.

But Mr Wilson said this was the wrong decision.

"As a parent I would be expect to be told about an incident like this, and as a minister I expect parents to be told that's why the new guidelines developed earlier this year require parents to be told about incidents like this," he told ABC Radio in Brisbane on Monday.

Ms Bligh also said the decision was a mistake but insisted it was not a cover-up.

"I think the community should have been advised, and I understand the (education) minister has been taking steps to make sure that happens in the future," she told reporters north of Brisbane on Monday.

"This decision, taken two years ago by technical officers on the grounds that it posed no threat, is regrettable."

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube