Page 5595 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
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Labor takes a practical approach to these matters and we are listening to our school communities. The use of chemicals in schools needs a realistic approach. We must not lose sight of the big picture. That is why we have been discussing the health and safety of cleaning products with the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, who represent many of our cleaners in the ACT. It is crucial to deal with pollution and the environment but they are not the only issues at stake here. Others are the health of our students and the health of our school janitors and cleaners and the practical problems that cleaners face in their everyday job. Cleaners have obligations to keep lists of products used, to make sure staff have appropriate knowledge for handling and storage and to undergo substantive prequalification checks regarding the use of cleaning products. So, rather than simply following another country’s environmental purchasing procedures, we must be sure that we know what the impact will be on our cleaners here in the ACT.
I am happy for the Department of Education and Training to take a closer look at the EPA’s requirements and other international best practice models. Indeed, I am always happy to improve our standards, always happy to trial new ideas. I am happy to look at an educative guide for the community in this important policy area. But we always have to remember that there are other balancing considerations. So, before we rush in, let us think about the experience, training and time that cleaners and small businesses already have. Let us think about how shifting to different products and the use of new processes will impact on cleaners’ experience, training and time. Let us consider how well they might be doing the job at the moment before we force more red tape on them.
In conclusion, Ms Hunter’s motion recognises an important issue that my department has been working on for some time. I repeat that the health and safety of students and teachers is a top priority but the working conditions and health of our cleaners matter also. We will consider international best practice in this area, but let us take a moment to recognise the hard work and expertise that many of our cleaners already have.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (5:27): I am pleased to speak to Ms Hunter’s motion and indeed the opposition will be supporting this motion today. I am also pleased to see that a compromise has come about with the wording of the motion and that the collegiate and tripartisan nature of the week continues. Indeed, we are happy to have this discussion and to participate in the spirit of cooperation when it comes to the issues around the use of chemicals in schools and the safety of our children and our community.
However, I would also like to see the same consideration for our community given to motions that the opposition have brought to this place; one in particular comes to mind and that is the motion on the notice paper to reopen closed schools. Not only were these schools shut down by Labor; also, we did not expect the Greens to shut down debate on this decision. So in the spirit of this tripartisan Christmas spirit I look forward to seeing the same consideration given to at least allowing this motion to come back on for debate.
The issue of maintaining healthy and safe conditions in ACT schools is a serious issue and in most schools, offices and commercial enterprises the use of cleaning materials
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