[Greens-Media] Kids gassed while Keneally govt sits on report

[John Kaye]

Kids gassed while Keneally govt sits on report
 
Media release: 19 May 2010
 
As winter approaches, the Keneally government has sat on the findings of an independent report into the health effects of unflued gas heaters in classrooms, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Gas heating in schools on hold', SMH 19 May 2010, page 3, http://bit.ly/smh100519)
 
Dr Kaye said: "The NSW government has known for at least six years that emissions from unflued gas heaters in classrooms have unacceptable consequences for children's health. 
 
"They continued to install them in public schools after their own Department of Health warned private schools in 2004  to get rid of them.
 
"NSW Education Minister Verity Firth has finally put a temporary hold on installing new unflued heaters in classrooms only after a strong community campaign and a flood of complaints from teachers and students. 
 
"The Minister is still sitting on the study. It had to be pried loose by an Upper House order.
 
"Unless the public sees this report, then there is a real risk that the NSW government will renew the exclusive heater supply contract with the manufacturer Bowins, who supplies only unflued models. 
 
"That would mean four more years of growing numbers of classrooms with dangerous levels of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
 
"The Keneally government is doing everything it can to stop the results of the Woolcock report becoming public.
 
"Minster Firth and her predecessors ignored the problem while students had their health compromised and their learning undermined by unflued gas heaters. 
 
"She is obviously very worried about the political fallout from yet further evidence that unflued gas heaters are spreading disease. 
 
"It is time for the Minister to put student health ahead of politics, release the findings and begin the urgent process of phasing out these dangerous and polluting heaters," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
----------------------------------
John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000