Education Minister Jo Palmer MHA faces renewed scrutiny following revelations that her department issued incomplete safety guidance on handling asbestos-contaminated sand, with the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) Secretary admitting critical omissions during Budget Estimates.
The Australian Education Union, the Greens and Labor opposition have all condemned the government’s response, citing failures to provide personal protective equipment and clear safety instructions to school staff, while the government maintains the health risk remains low and is taking a proactive approach to school closures and cleaning operations.
Media release – Jo Palmer MHA, Minister for Education, 19 November 2025
Update on coloured sand recall
The Tasmanian Government is prioritising cleaning at schools impacted by the coloured sand recall so they can reopen as quickly and safely as possible.
Timing for reopening will be on a case-by-case basis. It will be determined by expert advice from an accredited asbestos assessor once all required cleaning is completed. Schools currently fully closed will be prioritised.
We are acting on expert asbestos advice and managing each school according to its specific needs.
The Department for Education, Children and Young People will coordinate the safe collection and removal of any contaminated material, carried out by qualified specialists.
Principals are being provided direct support and guidance to ensure safety remains the focus at every school.
All expert advice to date indicates the traces of asbestos fibres in the coloured sand presents a low-risk situation.
We are taking a cautious and proactive approach to the safety of children and staff.
The Tasmanian Government continues to follow advice from the ACCC, WorkSafe Tasmania Regulator and independent expert advisors, and we are keeping schools and sites updated as new information comes to hand.
I would like to thank families and school and education staff for their patience and understanding as we work through this process.
A list of impacted schools is available on the DECYP website, which will be updated progressively.
More information and advice about the recalled products is available at the ACCC website.
Schools are communicating directly with their families but please see below for the latest list (last updated 4:00 PM on 19 November).
Full Closure Schools for Thursday 20 November:
- Bagdad Primary School
- Campbell Street Primary School
- Clarendon Vale Primary School
- Dodges Ferry Primary School
- Glenorchy Primary School
- JRLF – Gagebrook Primary School
- JRLF – Herdsmans Cove Primary School
- JRLF – East Derwent Primary School
- Lindisfarne North Primary School
- Montagu Bay Primary School
- New Norfolk Primary School
- Romaine Park Primary School
- Springfield Gardens Primary School
Partial Closures for Thursday 20 November for the following grades:
- Beaconsfield Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
- Bellerive Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
- Brighton Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 1
- Clarendon Vale Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
- Collinsvale Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 3
- Hagley Farm Primary School – Kindergarten
- Illawarra Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
- Kingston Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
- Latrobe Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
- Lauderdale Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
- Lenah Valley Primary School – Kindergarten
- Mt Nelson Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
- Mt Stuart Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 1
- Penguin District School – Kindergarten to Year 6
- Perth Primary School – Prep
- Port Dalrymple School – Kindergarten
- Princes Street Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
- Rokeby Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
- Sheffield School – Prep and Railton campus – Kindergarten and Prep
- Sorell School – Kindergarten to Year 6
- Triabunna District School – Kindergarten to Year 3
- Ulverstone Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Reopening Fully for Thursday 20 November:
- Howrah Primary School
- Sandy Bay Infant School
- Warrane Primary School
- Windermere Primary School
Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmania, 19 November 2025
Minister’s negligence exposed staff to avoidable asbestos risk
Education Minister Jo Palmer is under renewed scrutiny after Budget Estimates today revealed that DECYP issued incomplete and unsafe directions to school staff about handling suspected asbestos-contaminated sand.
DECYP’s written advice encouraged staff to physically handle and bag the material but failed to recommend – or require – the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The guidance, sent to schools on 13 November, was lifted almost word-for-word from the ACCC recall notice except for omitting crucial instructions directing staff to wear disposable gloves, a P2 mask and protective eyewear.
DECYP also failed to provide any PPE to schools for the purpose of handling contaminated sand.
When questioned, the DECYP Secretary admitted the omission was a mistake and could not explain why the correct safety directions were not issued.
Pressed further, the embattled Minister conceded that “in hindsight” she would have preferred “stronger language” referring to gloves and masks.
Instead of acknowledging the risk, the Minister repeatedly downplayed concerns, insisting the contaminated sand was “low risk”.
AEU Tasmania State Manager Brian Wightman said this response was unacceptable.
“‘Low risk’ does not mean safe. Failing to instruct staff to wear PPE while handling asbestos-contaminated material is negligent by any standard,” Mr Wightman said. “This omission exposed educators and school staff to a completely avoidable hazard and it happened on the Minister’s watch.”
“This is yet another case of the Minister being asleep at the wheel during a crisis, then minimising the seriousness of the issue. Staff were left without proper instructions and without PPE because the Minister failed to ensure complete and accurate safety advice reached every school.”
“When asbestos is involved, there is no margin for error. Educators deserved clear safety directions from the start but the Minister has yet again failed in her duty of care as their employer.”
Concerns aren’t just limited to failures to provide PPE. Educators are now questioning why staff are still being asked to attend schools that are closed due to being deemed unsafe for students.
“Everyone knows sand goes everywhere,” said Mr Wightman. “Educators are saying the sand has been spread to ‘every crevice’ of their schools, not just the rooms it was used in. We are concerned the Minister is continuing to downplay a very serious safety issue and continuing to needlessly place staff in danger.”
“We would expect the Minister to take the strongest possible precautions to protect everyone in schools, and only allow staff and students in schools where it has been confirmed, on a case-by-case basis, that the contamination has not spread.”
Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmania, 18 November 2025
Embattled Minister leaves public schools exposed in asbestos sand crisis
The ongoing asbestos contamination incident involving coloured sand has caused significant concern across Tasmania’s education sector, and public schools have been left seeking clearer direction and timely guidance to ensure the safety of staff and students.
While private and Catholic schools moved quickly to close campuses as a precaution, many public schools experienced delays due to the absence of an early statewide directive. This led to uncertainty for principals, staff, and families, and in some cases left school communities unsure about how to manage potentially contaminated coloured sand safely.
The lack of timely consistent advice from the Minister has created an unfortunate disparity between school sectors, leaving public school staff and students facing avoidable stress and additional risk. What is needed now is clear, coordinated communication and decisive action to support all schools equally.
“Any classroom with this sand present should be isolated immediately. Where safe rooms are unavailable, the Minister should be prepared to authorise temporary school closures to protect students and staff,” said AEU Tasmania President, David Genford.
“Educators and families need clear, consistent information about what will happen next. We are calling on Minister Palmer to provide the reassurance and direction that school communities are waiting for.
“No worker should ever be put in a position where they may be exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately, some staff were placed in that situation due to the absence of clear guidance from the Minister.”
“Public schools needed strong, coordinated leadership during this incident. Instead, many were left uncertain about the safest course of action.”
Media release – Vica Bayley MHA, Tasmanian Greens, 19 November 2025
Coloured sand asbestos advice failed staff safety
The Secretary for the DECYP has admitted under Greens’ questioning in Estimates that it was a mistake not to advise Principals to ensure staff wear PPE when removing coloured sand containing asbestos from State school premises.
On Friday morning, schools were sent an email advising that the ACCC has recalled coloured sand products due to the possibility they contained asbestos. The email advised schools in numbered steps to stop using the product, place the sand in a double-taped plastic bag and keep it out of reach of children, and dispose of it at an asbestos waste facility.
Recall advertisements for the two products from the ACCC were attached to the email, one of which recommended to wear disposable gloves and a mask before handling the product. This precaution is standard when handling anything with the potential to contain asbestos, however, it was not repeated in the management steps recommended in the email to schools by DECYP.
Under questioning from the Greens in Estimates on why this precautionary measure wasn’t taken, the Minister said she would’ve preferred the advice be given, and the Secretary of DECYP admitted it was a mistake that it was not.
The Liberal Government’s response to this incident was underwhelming and incomplete on Friday – staff should have been notified of all precautionary steps recommended to be taken in removing the coloured sand, potentially containing asbestos.
The risks of asbestos are well-known. Whilst it’s reassuring the ACCC has advised the risk of inhaling airborne fibres is low, staff still should have been given the full information they needed to stay safe.
Going forward, the Minister and DECYP must ensure they communicate fully with school staff and parents about the risks of the coloured sand product, and the precautions that are being taken in disposing of it.
Media release – Meg Brown MHA, Opposition Whip, 19 November 2025
Palmer under pressure
Embattled Education Minister, Jo Palmer, will be feeling the pressure when she fronts up to the Estimates scrutiny table this morning.
Whether it’s her failure to keep teachers and support staff safe, her appalling attempts to pressure workers taking industrial action through the media, or her blinkered obsession with her pet MultiSchools project, the Minister was always going to have a full plate this week.
Now Minister Palmer has also been exposed missing in action while confusion spreads among families and education staff about the government’s response to toxic sands in schools, the pressure on her has ratcheted up even further.
Toxic sand is a national issue, and no one is suggesting the Minister is to blame for its presence in Tasmanian schools.
But no matter how hard she tries, the Minister can’t escape the responsibility she holds for managing the Government’s response – which has left parents, students, and school staff in a state of confusion.
Minister Palmer’s performance in the portfolio has been so underwhelming that she’s lost the confidence of teachers and support staff. It’s difficult to see how she can ever regain their trust.
Media release – Josh Willie MHA, Labor Leader, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 18 November 2025
Minister must provide clarity on asbestos sand
Education Minister Jo Palmer’s urgently needs to step up and provide clarity about the Government’s response to asbestos sand in schools.
There is a notable discrepancy in the advice being given to parents, students and education staff across public, private and catholic schools. While potentially affected sand is present in all three systems, school closures are primarily occurring in private and catholic schools.
This discrepancy, and the lack of leadership or direction from the Minister is causing great alarm for families and staff at public schools in particular.
As the WorkSafe advice states, under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012, duty holders that have used or store any of the affected sand products should:
Treat the material as asbestos-contaminated until proven otherwise.
Immediately isolate the product and prevent access to the area.
Arrange for qualified inspection, sampling, remediation and clearance by an independent licensed asbestos assessor / Class A asbestos removalist.
Is the Education Department ignoring this advice, or acting on different advice from private and catholic schools?
Minister Palmer has been caught out missing in action on multiple key education issues so far this year.
As families and workers become more and more concerned about the Government’s response to asbestos sand in schools, the Minister urgently needs to show some leadership and provide some clarity.
Media release – Jo Palmer MHA, Minister for Education, 18 November 2025
Update on schools impacted by sand recall
The Tasmanian Government is taking a cautious and proactive approach to the safety of children and staff following the ACCC recalling a number of coloured sand products.
All expert advice received to date indicates traces of asbestos fibres in the coloured sand presents a low risk situation.
However, as a precautionary measure, we have made the decision that a number of schools will close or partially close.
A list of impacted schools is available on the DECYP website, which will be updated progressively.
We engaged the services of an accredited asbestos assessor and over the past 24 hours have done an audit of every Government school, library and Child and Family Learning Centre.
I want to thank school and education staff for the extraordinary turnaround of information.
If Government sites have used the sand within the last seven days, the decision has been made to isolate the area where the sand has been used.
If the facility is unable to isolate the area or move children and staff to another area, the facility may need to close while further testing and cleaning is undertaken.
Approximately 90 sites advised they have used the sand in the past seven days.
I want to reassure families the risk is low and the steps we are taking are precautionary.
As the advice from regulatory bodies is updated, we will reassess our risk and response.
We’ve stood up the Emergency Operations Group in line with our emergency incident protocol practices.
More information and advice about the recalled products is available at the ACCC website.
Media release – Jo Palmer MHA, Minister for Education, 18 November 2025
School audit undertaken over sand recall
An audit has been undertaken of all Tasmanian Government schools following the ACCC’s recall of several coloured sand products that have been found to contain naturally occurring asbestos.
The advice from the Federal Department of Health is that the health risk is low and that respirable asbestos fibres have not been detected, however we are taking a proactive approach.
The audit included all Government schools, libraries and Child and Family Learning Centre sites to determine the use of the sand throughout these sites.
An accredited asbestos assessor has been engaged to assist in identifying the risks and any controls that may be necessary to mitigate and prevent any future risk.
All schools and CFLCs have been provided with the appropriate advice around what to do if they find sand, including isolating areas if the sand has been used.
An incident management team is working with our schools and CFLCs.
Schools and CFLCs will continue to communicate with parents as we progress.
The situation is being closely monitored, with each school and CFLC undergoing a risk assessment.
DECYP is liaising with the childcare sector in Tasmania to ensure that it has up-to-date information and support.
Our priority is the safety and well-being of students and staff.
We will continue to monitor this situation carefully and work closely with all schools, CFLCs and Work Safe Tasmania.
More information will be available on the Department’s website. Alternatively, Tasmanians can call the Worksafe Helpline on 1300 366 322.
The Department’s current advice to schools and other sites, in line with health and safety requirements is:
If the sand is unopened – sealed and secured – remove in accordance with guidelines.
If the sand has been used – isolate the area and do not use that area.
If the area can’t be isolated -relocate the students and staff to another area.
The Department will then work with schools to facilitate the required treatment, and to ensure the appropriate action is taken.
Media release – WorkSafe Tasmania – 18 November 2025
WorkSafe Tasmania publishes new fact sheet on recalled coloured sand products
WorkSafe Tasmania has released a new fact sheet providing important information for schools, childcare providers, and parents following the national recall of certain coloured sand products that may contain naturally occurring asbestos.
The fact sheet outlines:
• Which products have been recalled by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
• The types of asbestos identified and associated risks
• Steps schools and childcare providers must take to manage affected sand safely
• Guidance for parents and caregivers concerned about potential exposure.
The recall applies to:
• Kadink Sand
• Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand
• Creatistics – Coloured Sand
• Active Sandtub 14 piece Sand Castle Building Set, Blue/Green/Pink Magic Sand.
While testing has found the risk of airborne asbestos fibres to be low, precautionary measures are required to ensure safety.
The fact sheet is provided below and is available on the WorkSafe Tasmania website.
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