Just three days from Tasmania's borders opening, Education Minister Sarah Courtney and the Liberal Government are yet to adequately inform parents, students, teachers and other staff how schools will continue to operate once COVID enters the state.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said Ms Courtney had offered scant information about how the school system would cope with a Coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Willie called on the government to release a schools audit undertaken earlier this year but, typically, kept under wraps.
"Ms Courtney has told Tasmanian families and educators that she is investing in shade structures for possible outdoor learning and ventilators for classrooms but she has failed to deliver comprehensive detail about how schools will be equipped - and that's what families and staff want," Mr Willie said.
"As the school year winds down, families and teachers are now looking toward Term One of 2022 and they need specific information about how our school system will cope with the inevitability of COVID entering Tasmania.
"Why won't Ms Courtney release the full school audit so the school community can understand what work needs to be done, where it needs to be done and when it will be done?
"It's all very well for Ms Courtney to repeatedly say we'll be ready, but the lack of detail is not providing any assurance.
"Ensuring there aren't disruptions to Tasmanian children and their education should be Ms Courtney's primary focus and highest priority."
Mr Willie said it was also irresponsible of Ms Courtney as the Minister for Children to have allowed the Liberal Government to so comprehensively drag its feet on establishing a vaccine mandate for childcare workers.
"It's not good enough that the government is only starting to consult with the childcare sector tomorrow ahead of Wednesday's border opening.
"Tasmania is now the only state without a mandate and the government has not explained why has this crucial move been left so late.
"How many childcare workers will remain unvaccinated come 15 December?
"Children under the age of five cannot be vaccinated so everything possible needs to be done to ensure they are protected."
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
