[Greens-Media] Blackheath parents punished for protecting their children

[John Kaye]

Blackheath parents punished for protecting their children 
 
Media release: 9 May 2011
 
The Department of Education should refund the $44,000 spent by Blackheath Public School P&C on safe heating options for classrooms in their children's school, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Temperature rises over school heaters' Sydney Morning Herald, 9 May, page 3, http://j.mp/smh110509)
 
Dr Kaye said: "Blackheath parents are being punished for trying to protect their children from harmful fumes.
 
"The Department is now installing flued gas heaters after  refusing to refund parents for the $44,000 they spent on reverse cycled air-conditioning in the school's classrooms. 
 
"The redundant cooling systems will stand as a monument to the bureaucratic  pay-back mentality.
 
"The former Labor government should not have let the situation reach the level of desperation that forced parents to resort to using their own money to buy a safe heating solution. 
 
"The Department of Education is penalising parents who refused to stand by while their children's health was compromised. 
 
"The sensible option would be to remove the flued units from Blackheath and take them down the road to Hazelbrook where they would reduce the risk of respiratory diseases for both teachers and students.
 
"When he was in Opposition the Education Minister made all the right noises about removing unflued gas heaters from schools.
 
"Now he's in government,  Adrian Piccoli should put his money where his mouth was. 
 
"He should force Treasury to hand over the money needed to get rid of unflued gas heaters and protect the lungs of this state's young people," said Dr Kaye.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 

 
 
 
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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