Page 232 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
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Recreation and Minister for Women) (11.29): I enjoy the chance to speak on this motion today and thank Mr Rattenbury for bringing it forward. I move:
Insert new paragraph (2)(A):
“(2A) acknowledges:
(a) the ACT Government’s investment in government school infrastructure upgrades to respond to the impact of climate change, such as double glazing, insulation and building fabric improvements to reduce air leakage;
(b) the work of the Education Directorate to prepare government schools and support non-government schools to prepare to respond to smoke pollution and hot conditions, including:
(i) timely, collaborative and responsive consultation with staff, unions, parents, health experts, WorkSafe ACT, and other stakeholders;
(ii) clear guidance for schools on assessing the air quality risk on a day-by-day basis; and
(iii) clear guidance for schools on managing the risk of poor air quality, particularly for sensitive groups; and
(c) Asthma Australia’s endorsement of the ACT Government’s work to prepare schools to respond to poor air quality caused by bushfire smoke;”.
I particularly want to talk about what has been happening in our schools around managing poor air quality and how school communities and the Education Directorate have been working to make sure that our schools are safe for everybody. Of course, many families were very concerned about air quality within schools as students returned to school after the summer break. The Education Directorate worked with many experts, including the ACT Work Safety Commissioner, and consulted with a large number of stakeholders, including unions and the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations, to prepare clear advice for schools on how to manage air quality issues.
The ACT’s public schools were supported to make decisions that were right for staff and students, based on prevailing weather conditions and the level of relative vulnerabilities of individual staff members and students, depending on their susceptibility to smoke related issues. In mild conditions schools used mitigation strategies for sensitive groups, such as younger children, which included remaining indoors and limiting physical activity as much as possible. In poorer conditions, schools implemented measures that were the same for the general population, such as cancelling outdoor activities and excursions.
School closures were not put into effect and are not anticipated at this time. Based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer, air monitoring will be undertaken, and is undertaken, through direct observations within each school community. Information has always been provided to families and students attending school. As well, Dyson donated 400 air purifiers to the ACT Education Directorate. These air purifiers were allocated to areas in schools for students and staff who were particularly vulnerable. It was decided the remaining units would be distributed to schools based on the level of
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