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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (20 April) . . Page.. 971 ..

MR STEFANIAK: I will come to that, Ms Tucker. Treatment is not routinely undertaken. I can think of a few examples of someone complaining about how we were doing things. I recall something recently about cockroaches. The guidelines for eradication of cockroaches set out what actually occurs in schools. I think that was an isolated incident.

Environment ACT authorise pest control contractors. They are required to use the least toxic and the least irritant chemicals for each application. That is a requirement of Environment ACT. The provision of pest control services for schools and for preschools is coordinated centrally. The advice we have from Environment ACT, Ms Tucker, is that the Department of Education and Community Services approach is consistent with interstate practices. The decision on whether to engage pest controllers and on what type of application to use is made on a case-by-case basis. We will always consider best alternatives. For example, a new non-toxic termite control system is being trialled at Waramanga preschool at present. We are always amenable to new ideas and improvements, especially if they are more environmentally friendly. ACT schools have a very good record as a result. The trial at Waramanga preschool is just one case in point.

Chemical use is minimised. Chemicals are used only as a last resort. Manual eradication is a method adopted by pest controllers and by teachers at schools. I have already mentioned something in relation to cockroaches.

MS TUCKER: I ask a supplementary question. Mr Stefaniak, if it is being so well managed, can you explain to the Assembly why toxic chemicals were sprayed into the sandpits at preschools and, further, why you do not even know which sandpits were sprayed and so have to replace the sand in all the sandpits in preschools? While I am on it, if you believe that that is centrally coordinated and managed by Environment, can you please table for this Assembly all the reports that you have about how schools are using chemicals? My supplementary question is about the preschool sandpits.

MR STEFANIAK: I am fairly well aware of what has occurred, although we are still trying to find out exactly which sandpits were sprayed.

Ms Tucker: Exactly!

MR STEFANIAK: Will you shut up and just listen, Ms Tucker. Quite frequently the problem goes right back to the source. In this case I understand from my friend here that a worker was a bit overzealous and did something that was not actually in the guidelines. I understand that my colleague's department has counselled the person responsible. I am certainly assured that as a result CityScape has reinforced with their staff that sandpits are not to be sprayed. That is the normal practice, Ms Tucker.

I go back to what I said earlier. As Minister of the Department of Education and Community Services, I have a duty to make sure that we take proper steps ourselves regardless of whether someone else has or has not done the right thing. In this case, quite clearly, someone was overzealous and incorrectly sprayed sandpits. We have to ensure that children are protected. If we have to err on the side of caution, that is something that I am going to do to ensure their safety. Accordingly, that is why we have replaced the sand in the sandpits we know were sprayed. The rest have been sealed off. Until such

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