Education Minister Yvette Berry.
EDUCATION Minister Yvette Berry confirmed more ACT schools have discovered potentially hazardous lead dust, however, was unable to say which schools were involved.
Shadow minister for education Jeremy Hanson has called on Ms Berry to publish the full list of schools affected by lead paint and asbestos issues, saying her response has been “slow and inadequate”.
“The growing number of ACT government schools being impacted by hazardous materials is a direct result of 20 years of neglect from the Labor-Greens government,” said Mr Hanson.
“Students and staff deserve schools that are safe. Parents should be able to send their children to school with peace of mind that they will not be exposed to hazardous substances.”
FURTHER Canberra schools suspected of containing toxic lead paint and other hazardous materials will not be inspected.
The direction comes after a fourth school since June last year was found to have either lead dust or lead paint contamination in their buildings.
However, an ACT government department admitted the presence of lead paint at the school in Canberra’s south was known before routine summer maintenance work was undertaken.
“Licensed assessors, Robsons, conducted tests to check if lead dust has flowed from the heating system to other areas in the school,” the department said in a statement to CityNews.
“These tests have confirmed that all the spaces are safe to occupy.