05:53 pm, Wednesday 17 March, 2010

Queensland’s Attorney-General Cameron Dick says it is not the Government at fault for an asbestos incident at a north Queensland school. Instead, he shifts the blame to contractors working on the schools.

Last week, Mackay North High School students and faculty had to be evacuated when it was revealed that asbestos particles may have been disturbed during a September 2009 work.

A week before the Mackay North incident, up to 20 Mirani State High School students were ordered to shower in their uniforms because of an asbestos ceiling scare.

“I’m advised that in one instance it was contractors who’d come into the school who had breached very clear and well-known standards for dealing with and treating and working with asbestos,” Mr Dick said.

“That is unacceptable and they’ve already been dropped as a contractor.”

However, Opposition Education spokesman Bruce Flegg highlights the systemic failures.

“This is not just one school – we’re talking about three schools in Mackay – one was under investigation when the news broke about the other two,” he said.

“There are strong national guidelines and they’re not being enforced by the Government in schools.”

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