Education Minister Di Farmer skips Rochedale asbestos meeting for Pink concert

Education Minister Di Farmer has revealed why she attended a Pink concert instead of meeting with angry parents from a Brisbane primary school.

Education Minister Di Farmer went to a Pink concert to network with staff from her department instead of attending an emergency meeting with distressed parents at an asbestos-riddled Brisbane school.

Asbestos was found in ceiling tiles in 12 classrooms at Rochedale State School on March 11, after a teacher raised concerns over dust on windowsills.

Students in Years 1, 2 and 3 were evacuated and relocated as a temporary measure while a thorough cleaning process was initiated, with the school later confirming removal works could only be undertaken during the December school holidays.

Panicked parents complained of a lack of communication from both the school and education department about the asbestos exposure risk to their children after being told the rooms were deemed safe for students to return to.

A snap meeting was held on March 19 to allow parents to ask department of health and education representatives questions however, Ms Farmer and Education Director-General Michael De’Ath did not attend.

Both were at the Pink concert with 18 department “stakeholders”.

Ms Farmer attempted to justify the decision by stating she was strengthening relationships with department staff as the new education minister.

“Corporate events where members of non-government parties have been present and enjoying the hospitality of various hosts, it is an accepted way to develop relationships,” she said.

The Opposition claimed at least 23 students have left Rochedale State School due to the asbestos discovery, however Ms Farmer said overall enrolments were up by four.

Education Minister Di Farmer at budget estimates on Thursday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Since March, 37 students have left Rochedale State School, including 25 from Years 1, 2 and 3, while another 40 new students enrolled.

Opposition education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan quizzed Mr De’Ath on his decision to attend the concert with Ms Farmer rather than attend the meeting, who said he would have attended if he thought the situation was being mismanaged.

“This is a really important group of stakeholders who have played a critical role in the work that we undertake as a department,” Mr De’Ath said.

“When it is an event that is of that profile with that level of stakeholders, it’s very common that I would be there accompanying the Minister.”

Rochedale parent Adam Littlefield said Ms Farmer had more reason to attend the meeting as the newly appointed Education Minister.

“They should have been at the meeting,” he said.

“I’m really mad.”

Ms Farmer told estimates she was in Parliament at the time of the meeting and had sent a senior media advisor from her department, however, Mr Littlefield said he did not remember the senior official attending.

“If they were (there), they certainly didn’t speak,” he said.

Affected classrooms were gutted, with parents offered a $150 reimbursement to replace $250 worth of school items thrown away.

The Rochedale State School P&C spent an additional $12,000 to cover the expense gap, while parents started a GoFundMe page to help replace items for teachers.

Originally published as Education Minister Di Farmer skips Rochedale asbestos meeting for Pink concert