Asbestos laying dormant in more than 500 SA government schools and preschools

Asbestos is lying dormant in 500-plus schools and preschools across South Australia, new data shows. Is your school on the list?

Asbestos is lying dormant in more than 500 government schools and preschools across South Australia, new data shows, as parliament considers a push to remove the deadly building material from classrooms within 10 years.

Figures released to SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros under Freedom of Information revealed the names of the school and preschool sites on the asbestos register.

Ms Bonaros on Wednesday introduced legislation that called on the state government to develop and execute a plan to eradicate asbestos from the land, buildings and facilities of the schools and preschools within the next 10 years.

SCHOOLS ASBESTOS LIST

Search the schools on the asbestos register (list as provided by the FOI request contains 580 schools, but late on Wednesday night it was flagged that some schools appear on the register but do not actually have any asbestos. The true number is believed to be slightly lower.)

Under her proposal, Education Minister Blair Boyer would be required to provide annual progress reports to parliament.

A similar scheme has already been developed and implemented in Queensland.

Ms Bonaros said it was imperative that the government established a clear and actionable plan to tackle asbestos legacy issues in schools.

“We must move beyond merely managing or mitigating risks,” she said.

“Safe enough is not good enough. The deadly consequences of asbestos exposure are well-documented – it’s simply not worth the risk.

SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros. Picture: Mark Brake

“National and international consensus affirms that there are no safe levels of asbestos exposure. We cannot afford to overlook the potential hazards by what may seem like manageable risks.”

Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia (ADSSA) president Peter Photakis said removal of asbestos was important for the health and safety of school communities.

“A proactive approach to asbestos awareness is pertinent in helping the school communities understand the necessity in removing all asbestos in our schools.”

Exposure to asbestos fibres can cause diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. But asbestos in schools tends to be “bonded”, meaning, if the material is in good condition and left undisturbed, it presents no known health risks.

Mr Boyer said the government would consider Ms Bonaros’ bill.

He said the statewide asbestos register, managed by the Education Department and maintenance company Ventia, ensured ongoing monitoring of sites.

“There are currently no government school sites in the high-risk category on the register,” he said.

“The number of sites in category two has been reduced by 76 per cent since 2020.”

Mr Boyer said asbestos in categories two to four on the register, where it remains in good condition and is left undisturbed, is gradually being removed by the department as soon as practical.

“One of the challenges with asbestos actually lies in its removal from a building,” he said.

“It is specialised work with stringent safety processes and often requires the work to be done when students are not on site.”