FULL LIST: Qld schools caught up in almost 600 asbestos scares

A Brisbane school has topped the list of hundreds of Queensland campuses where asbestos was discovered in 2022, with the state government criticised over its handling of the issue. See the full list.

There were almost 600 incidents last year where a Queensland state school sent mass letters home to parents warning of a potential asbestos discovery.

In 2022, there were 575 incidents where a school advised parents of an asbestos-related discovery being made on campus, and restrictions being placed on access to certain buildings or classrooms as a result.

Many schools reported multiple incidents last year, there were 22 schools who reported five or more asbestos incidents in 2022. In total, 287 schools accounted for the 575 asbestos-related incidents last year.

The full list of Queensland schools involved, the dates these concerning findings were made, and which schools most frequently sounded the alarm can be revealed.

Ithaca Creek State School in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Bardon topped the list with 11 reported incidents. It is one of the oldest schools in the state, having opened in 1885.

Three schools had 10 incidents last year – Mackay State High School on the state’s central coast (opened in 1912), Woody Point Special School situated north of Brisbane (opened in 1979), and Woree State School in far north Queensland (opened in 1980).

Also featuring in the top 10 schools was Gordonvale State High School in the state’s far north, Moorooka State School on Brisbane’s southside, Springwood Road State School in Logan, Harristown State School in Toowoomba, Leichhardt State School in Ipswich, and Mitchelton State High School in Brisbane’s north.

Mitchelton State High School. Pic Annette Dew

The data was released by Education Minister Grace Grace in response to a Question on Notice in State Parliament by LNP education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan.

According to the Department of Education, the 2022 figures are down on asbestos incidents recorded in schools in 2021. However, last year’s totals are higher than 2019 and 2020.

In 2019, the number of suspected asbestos incidents was 542 across 297 schools. In 2020, there were 568 incidents across 302 schools. In 2021, there was a significant spike to 740 incidents across 354 schools.

Education Minister Grace Grace said it was not uncommon for asbestos to be found in schools built before the 1990s, and with a record number of infrastructure upgrades and flood damage repairs, the chances of detecting asbestos in schools has also increased.

“The number of potential asbestos exposures is always concerning,” she said.

“However it is important to note that not all records in the database are confirmed cases and that schools individually manage the distribution of written advice to parents and caregivers for potential incidents.”

However, Dr Rowan said the 2022 figures were “alarming”.

“There are also serious concerns in relation to the number of schools that have had multiple separate recorded incidents in the space of one year,” he said.

Dr Christian Rowan.

Grace Grace.

“To have a primary school with 11 separate incidents. Plus three schools, including a special school, with 10 recorded incidents, and another 32 schools with four or more incidents, shows that Labor has lost control of student and teacher wellbeing and safety.

“The Labor Minister for Education has admitted there is no way to know if these notifications are provided within the (required) 24-hour period … (and) not every parental notification of an asbestos incident is recorded in the central register.

“The State Labor Government’s handling of asbestos management in schools continues to remain extremely concerning.

“Students, parents, teachers and school staff deserve absolute transparency and accountability on this vitally important workplace health and safety issue.”

A Department of Education spokesman said suspected asbestos-related incidents at all educational facilities are immediately addressed.

“In 2021, the Department commenced a review of its asbestos management plan and increased its analysis and governance of asbestos management reporting and activities,” he said.

“The Department’s approach in managing asbestos-related matters has evolved and continues to do so to ensure the safety of students, staff, visitors and contractors at schools.

“This has included greater awareness and management of identified asbestos

containing material.”

For the 2022-23 financial year, the state government has committed to spending an extra $108 million over four years on the removal of all low-density asbestos fibre boards.