MP Ray Williams alleges asbestos cover-up by Department of Education

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Castle Hill High school has allegedly been riddled with asbestos for six years. Picture: John Grainger
Castle Hill Superior college has allegedly been riddled with asbestos for six many years. Picture: John Grainger

A Sydney MP statements there has been a “horrifying” deal with-up of asbestos in a regional significant faculty.

Castle Hill MP Ray Williams statements the university group was explained to the Castle Hill Substantial Faculty was all clear even with a 2016 examination returning a good final result for what he termed “one of the most risky forms of asbestos”.

Mr Williams explained he experienced been approached by a delegation of teachers and mother and father who explained to him they experienced been complaining about the “horrifying” challenge for six a long time.

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He was explained to the 2000 students and hundreds of employees have been quite disturbed by the unknown fibrous white powder snowing down on them from the college ceiling.

Castle Hill High School made headlines in 2016 after some talk of asbestos was discovered. Picture: John Grainger
Castle Hill High University made headlines in 2016 right after some discuss of asbestos was identified. Photograph: John Grainger

“The lecturers and dad and mom consider the health and fitness of students, lecturers and staff of Castle Hill Large School (could have) been severely compromised adhering to decades of publicity to asbestos,” Mr Williams stated in a statement.

In accordance to Mr Williams, there have been quite a few complaints from the faculty community to the Office of Education – all of which have absent unanswered. He admitted he experienced not approached the division himself, but reported he realized there had been a two-12 months investigation into the considerations which experienced not nonetheless yielded any effects.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell explained she only became conscious to the “serious allegations” of mismanagement last thirty day period, by which time the asbestos experienced been cleared up.

An analysis of the school returned a positive for asbestos in 2016 – four years before any action was taken to remove it.
An examination of the school returned a good for asbestos in 2016 – four a long time just before any motion was taken to clear away it.

A spokesperson for the Office of Education explained removing of the asbestos was executed amongst 2020 and 2021.

“The office is self-assured there are no present-day asbestos troubles at the university,” the spokesperson explained.

“Testing was done to make sure the places were being absolutely remediated and clearance certificates issued in advance of the spot was open up to pupils and staff.”

Nonetheless, really serious issues continue to be more than how the considerations of mother and father and instructors went unanswered for 4 several years irrespective of a examination revealing asbestos in 2016.

In correspondence with Mr Williams, the Section of Education claimed it been given a complaint concerning the risk of asbestos at the university in 2020 and only became mindful of the previous constructive check in April 2022.

“On day 1, Phrase 2 2022, workers from the department, counsellors and an asbestos hygienist attended the college to notify employees of the good asbestos sample and to provide proper aid,” an email from the Section to Mr Williams mentioned.

“Staff ended up offered with a copy of the 2016 asbestos report and advised that the … investigation was ongoing.”

Castle Hill MP Ray Williams alleges the school has been riddled with asbestos for six years. Picture: John Grainger
Castle Hill MP Ray Williams alleges the faculty has been riddled with asbestos for six a long time. Picture: John Grainger

“The (alleged) deal with-ups and deception by the Office of Schooling in NSW is just staggering,” Mr Williams claimed.

“They will need to be dragged to account.”

Mr Williams acknowledged he was not an asbestos skilled and reported he did not know no matter if the proof would verify to be genuine.

He is contacting for an instant unbiased investigation to uncover the reality behind the “frightening” allegations.

“Hopefully I can expose a thing this afternoon and we can get some action after six a long time of inaction,” he explained.

Ms Mitchell mentioned the noted mismanagement was becoming investigated by the two the Division of Education’s Specialist and Ethical Benchmarks unit and SafeWork NSW.

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