Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk under fire over handling of school closures, early pick ups

The Premier has come under fire for a ‘complete failure of leadership’ after mixed messaging when calling for parents to pick their children up from school early. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been criticised for causing anger and confusion in a “complete failure of leadership” when calling on parents to collect their children from school early.

Ms Palaszczuk earlier today urged parents to collect children from schools from Bundaberg south to the northern Moreton Bay region due to unstable weather conditions and the threat of dangerous storms.

It was also announced that all schools across South East Queensland would be closed to children of non-essential workers on Friday.

Parents have reported being contacted by Brisbane schools telling them to pick up their children on Thursday before schools realised they were allowed to stay.

It’s understood confusion was caused by an incorrect social media post on the Premier’s Facebook page directed at all parents in the southeast that was deleted and replaced.

The initial post on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Facebook page.

The second post, after the first was deleted.

Opposition Education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan said mixed messaging around schools was confusing a lot of parents and teachers.

“In a disaster clear and calm messaging is vital,” he said.

“The Premier’s mixed messages regarding schools have caused chaos and confusion across the South East this afternoon.

“As we speak parents, schools and teachers are scrambling in different directions and acting on mixed advice.

“In a disaster that is downright dangerous.”

He said he had been personally contacted by schools and people unsure about what to do thanks to “diabolical” messaging.

“This is a complete failure of leadership,” he said.

Opposition Education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the safety of students and staff was paramount.

“In addition to early collections in those areas today, tomorrow schools across the entire south east region will only be open for children of essential workers,” she said.

“However, the message is stay off the roads and stay at home unless you really need to be out.”

Otto Fischer picks up his chidlren Felix and Quinn from Dutton Park State School. Picture: Adam Head

Dutton Park State School parent Otto Fischer said the first he heard of potential closures was when collecting his children from school at 3pm.

“Pick-up was a bit spooky because usually there’s parents everywhere and kids on the playground, but there was just no one there today,” he said.

His daughter Quinn said students were picked up throughout the day.

Fellow Dutton Park parent Marina, who asked for her surname be omitted, picked up her son early after her employer advised parents they could leave to do so.

“I think the interpretation of the instructions by different people was confusing,” she said.

“But it was clear to me that I could assess the situation and choose whether I wanted to do an early pick-up.”

Marina said she decided it was better to be safe than sorry, but also to spend extra time with her son.

Single father Chris Ball from Rainworth State School said it would be difficult with the kids at home tomorrow.

“I’m a single dad, so it means that I’ve got to work and have two kids,” he said.

Although he is unsure why the schools need to be closed, Mr Bell said he is just “going with the flow,”

“I don’t really understand why it is, I imagine there is a reason for it,” he said.

With such short notice Mr Bell doesn’t have a way to manage the kids at home and also work.

“I’m kinda screwed either way, I don’t really have a strategy, we won’t be doing any school work tomorrow, they’ll just be on the Ipad, that’s the only way I can get any work done”.

Rainworth State School mum Sophie said that it is “annoying” and “so disruptive” that the schools are closed tomorrow. “We’ve already missed two weeks at the start of the term, it feels like we’ve barely been here,” she said.