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Teachers ordered out of Aurukun over safety concerns

Community unrest in the indigenous town of Aurukun has seen the education department relocate school staff to Cairns.

Teachers ordered out of cape york
File image of students of a school in Aurukun. Source: AAP

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Source: AAP


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Twenty-five teachers and fellow school staffers have been ordered out of Aurukun in Queensland's Cape York region due to safety fears.

The staff were on Tuesday relocated to Cairns by police following community unrest which prompted the principal of the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy to close down the Aurukun campus for five school days.

Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones said she was deeply concerned about the safety of frontline teaching staff and ordered their relocation.

"The safety and wellbeing of our staff has to be our number one priority," Ms Jones said in a statement. "I am advised five additional police have been sent to Aurukun to ensure the safety of all residents."

Ms Jones said she had discussed the safety concerns with the principal and senior education staff.

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"After considering these concerns and resolutions put forward by staff I have given my full support to the executive principal's decision to temporarily close the Aurukun campus," she said.

"We will review the situation prior to reopening the school."

A police spokesman said officers were working closely with the local aboriginal shire council and the community to ensure the safety of all Aurukun residents.

He said additional police were deployed to Aurukun as a precaution to monitor the situation and assist in maintaining safety and security.


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