Published Tuesday, 13 March, 2007 at 05:49 PM

Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
LIBERALS SCAREMONGERING ON ASBESTOS - IRRESPONSIBLE
Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford, today described Opposition scaremongering about asbestos flooring in Queensland state schools as irresponsible.
“I am disappointed the Opposition has resorted to this tactic again – it plays on people’s lack of knowledge and their natural anxiety about the welfare of the most vulnerable members of society – our children,” Mr Welford said.
“There is no risk with asbestos building products in our state schools unless there is a disturbance – and any product which deteriorates or is damaged is replaced – and this applies to floors or fibro sheeting.
“I am advised there are currently 18 school buildings at 15 schools where this sort of maintenance work is currently happening – and this is standard practice.
“I want to make it very clear that if any of these buildings posed a danger to anyone, children or school staff, they would have been shut down immediately.”
Mr Welford said work was being carried out on flooring at the following schools. These are:
Mount Perry State School; Coomera State School; West End State School; McDowall State School; Camp Hill State School; Labrador State School; Benowa State School; Warwick West State School; Burnett State College; Julia Creek State School; Kedron State High School; Sunnybank State High School; Bileola State High School; Rockhampton North State High School and Amberley State School.
“Asbestos products were used extensively in Queensland buildings constructed during the last century including houses, office buildings and schools,” Mr Welford said.
“Most houses built before the mid 1980s contain asbestos somewhere in the house.
“The Opposition would do well to listen to the words of their former leader, Bob Quinn, who commented in 1997 when he was Education Minister that:
What I find really unpardonable is the way some Opposition politicians have cynically manipulated the community’s natural but unwarranted anxiety about asbestos in our schools.
Mr Welford said that if any parents or members of the community had a concern about asbestos building products in schools, they could contact Education Queensland on 1300 650 220 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Media contact: Greg Milne or Marnie Stitz on 32371000