What you said about Education Minister Di Farmer choosing to attend Pink concert

The drums are beating after revelations Education Minister Di Farmer went to a Pink concert instead of an emergency school meeting. HAVE YOUR SAY

The drums are beating after revelations Education Minister Di Farmer went to a Pink concert instead of attending an emergency meeting with distressed parents at an asbestos-riddled Brisbane school.

In news that has infuriated many readers, Ms Farmer opted to network with stakeholders at the concert despite asbestos being 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.

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

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.

Readers were quick to pile into the debate, with many claiming it was another Labor failure; others insisting it was just a bad look all around.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

There are other factors

Karen

so where was the schools ACM register? all schools had this done around 2005, so the leadership team should be held accountable for not know where it was located in the school.

Frank

Surely the taxpayer didn’t pay for 18ish public servants to go to pink. surely not.

db

Wow …. Nice to be a public servant and get shouted to a pink concert at $150 plus a ticket. I did not think the education department was doing that well, what with plunging scores and ideological curriculum debates. Still, I guess it depends on the metrics set for success, if there indeed any metrics set at all.

Adrian

Rome burned while Nero fiddled, same attitude by woke labor partying without a care once again at the expense of Queenslanders!

Pink put on a show for Di Farmer and her stakeholders. Picture: Josh Woning, J & A Photography

Are you kidding?!

Tony

Why? It’s a thing called priorities. Her priority wasn’t education, her priority was the Pink concert. Says it all doesn’t it.

Jennifer

“ network with staff “ what a load of rubbish. Wouldn’t have been able to hear one word any of the staff might have had to say. Just another example of a politician who doesn’t care about us Queenslanders. Out the door in 24.

Theodore

😂😂😂Networking. Pathetic! If it’s good enough for our illustrious leader to use a Pink Concert for networking then any educator can say they are having a networking session with their staff at a concert too. Mrs V

Michael

Why wouldn’t she go to Pink? Pink is only there for one night, but the failings in our schools and government are available every day and night. Secondly, why would this Labour pollie show concern for the people, none of the others do?

Another Labor failing

JRCO

Pathetic excuse. Out the door in 24

Alexander

I do not support this government. However am at a loss to understand how a minister not attending a talkfest meeting at 4pm could make any difference to the situation.

Sir Les P

IQ test required for all politicians on all sides of the political divide this incident proves it.

Ben

Not fit to be in parliament. Not fit to be a minister.

Blindfreddie

This is pathetic. Even the fool using the term “stakeholders” instead of public servants to confuse the perception is deceptive. Gotta go.

Originally published as What you said about Education Minister Di Farmer choosing to attend Pink concert