Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years, 19 January 2022
Two thirds of parents fear for kid’s COVID safety in schools as Courtney remains on holidays
Education Minister Sarah Courtney remains on holidays as a new survey reveals 66 per cent of Australian parents don’t believe it’s safe for children to return to classrooms in the midst of the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said with such levels of anxiety and uncertainty among parents and an unacceptable lack of information from the Gutwein Government, Ms Courtney either has to provide a return-to-school plan and guarantee all safety work has been undertaken or return to work to ensure it is done.
“Less than three weeks before school resumes and when there is no information about what has been done to ensure Tasmanian schools are COVID safe is not the time for Ms Courtney to be missing in action,” Mr Willie said.
“There is nothing wrong with taking annual leave but the school community is at a crucial junction when assurances need to be given – this Minister needs to be stepping up and delivering on her responsibilities because there has been no meaningful information from the government.
“Where is their plan to keep vulnerable students and students with a disability safe and engaged in an inclusive curriculum?
“Where is the plan to make vaccinations more accessible for five to 11 year olds to increase the rates before school?
“Will there be enough free rapid antigen tests to ensure students and staff can help prevent community transmission?
“Will staff and students be provided N95 masks or similar and how will that work for primary school aged children?
“Where is the Department of Education COVID safety audit and how much from the government’s $300 million COVID fund has the government spent on school upgrades?
“What will be the close contact guidelines for students and school staff?
“Will there be enough staff to keep schools operational or is the Department of Education planning to redeploy bureaucrats, recruit retired teachers or fast track pre-service teachers?”
Mr Willie said Ms Courtney and the government should be paying attention to the significant concerns of parents, highlighted by the release this week of a national survey by independent parent advocacy group The Parenthood which shows two thirds of those surveyed have considerable apprehension about the return to school.
“Ms Courtney should understand parents want assurances that their children will be safe.
“Ms Courtney needs to be called back to work to give the school community solid information so Tasmanian children can continue their education at school with confidence.”
Anita Dow MP, Shadow Health Minister, 19 January 2022
Government must fast-track COVID booster shots to keep Tasmanians out of hospital
The Gutwein Government needs to follow the lead of other states and fast-track COVID booster shots to ensure the escalation of admissions to hospitals does not continue.
Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said Public Health had yesterday confirmed that of the patients currently in Tasmanian hospitals diagnosed with COVID-19, only four were fully vaccinated, including a booster.
“The Director of Public Health Mark Veitch has been clear that evidence shows that booster vaccinations are critical for keeping people out of hospital,” Ms Dow said.
“In addition, Victoria has today reduced the dose interval for COVID-19 booster shots to three months, effective immediately, and that will substantially increase the number of people who are now eligible.
“Premier Peter Gutwein needs to follow suit so more Tasmanians can get fully vaccinated to help keep them out of hospital.
“It’s crucial as the spread of COVID in Tasmania continues to escalate – with 1,185 more cases reported today, with nine cases now confirmed in a ward at the Mersey Community Hospital and with 29 people in hospital – that the Liberal Government takes every precaution to keep Tasmanians safe and try and prevent hospitalisations.
“Tasmania’s health and hospital system and our frontline health professionals were already overburdened before this latest wave of the pandemic and the Premier needs to be trying to ensure the situation does not reach breaking point.”
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Health spokesperson, 19 January 2022
Education Minister MIA
With just three weeks until school returns, parents are anxious to hear the Government’s COVID safe schools plans. But instead of overseeing this critical planning stage, Minister Sarah Courtney has gone on holiday.
Given the widespread, rapidly moving community spread of COVID in Tasmania, parents and teachers are incredibly anxious about the return to school date of 9th February. They’re wondering how it will be possible for the Government to ensure schools are safe when so many children remain unvaccinated. The Premier refused to open the borders until he was confident more than 90% of over 16 year olds were vaccinated. What is his target for school children, who will be unprotected at the start of school?
It will be many months into the school year, at heroic estimates, before a reasonable number of school children would be double-dose vaccinated and receive some immunity from potential serious COVID illness. Until then, and afterwards, it is essential the Government makes school environments as safe as possible from airborne spread of Omicron.
Concerns about school air safety are particularly acute for students with disability. Despite strong advocacy from disability organisations and the Greens, the Government has so far ignored the higher risk that COVID presents for these children.
Today we’ve written to the Education Minister to highlight the many safety issues the Government has so far failed to address. Apparently the Education Minister – also Minister for Hospitality, Events and Small Business – is taking a holiday, so we’re not hopeful of getting a response any time soon. This is shades of Matthew Groom, who stayed on holiday at the height of the Basslink energy crisis.
The Gutwein Government is asking healthcare workers to cancel their leave so they can help deal with the current COVID situation, but their own Ministers won’t do the same to deal with critical and urgent issues of child safety. It’s shameful.
We hope Minister Courtney immediately returns to work, and steps up to support parents and teachers who are confronting serious questions about how to keep children safe.
