Liberal MP Ray Williams has blasted the Department of Education for keeping a Sydney school community in the dark for the last six years following an asbestos discovery back in 2016. 

The school is Castle Hill High School.

Mr Williams, the Member for Castle Hill, said the school returned a positive asbestos test in 2016 but the school community was advised it was negative.

“Today I have called for an independent asbestos test, underlining the word independent, independent of the Department of Education in particular … to satisfy everybody that if there is no asbestos and if there is no risk to anybody’s health including the 2000 students and all the staff and students at the school, if that comes back and it is clear, I will be the first to come out and say I am sorry I worried anybody,” he told Jim Wilson.

“I just want the test so we know and understand that it is a safe working environment.

“The stories I have heard from teachers at that school still to this day, talking about what is leaking out of the roof onto their workplace, onto their desk, that they themselves have had to clean up is absolutely horrifying.

“I believe at this point of time that everyone is in the dark, the finger needs to be pointed squarely at the Department of Education who have known about this since 2016.

“There has been a complete generation of school children in the last six years from year 7 to year 12 that have gone through that school and we don’t know whether they have been at the school in a safe working environment.”

Press PLAY for the whole interview 

Following Liberal MP Ray Williams speaking out about the Castle Hill High School asbestos drama, it has since been confirmed the school is safe for students by School Infrastructure NSW.

Anthony Manning, CEO School Infrastructure NSW, joined Jim Wilson to share more details of the unfolding situation.

“I can confirm that Castle Hill High School is safe, absolutely,” he told Jim Wilson.

Press PLAY for the whole interview 

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell full statement:

“I was made aware last month of allegations regarding mismanagement of asbestos in 2016 at Castle Hill High School. These are serious allegations that are the subject of investigation by both the Department of Education’s Professional and Ethical Standards unit and SafeWork NSW.”

Department of Education spokesperson  full statement:

“The department is confident there are no current asbestos issues at the school.  

“Remediation work at the school was completed in 2020 and 2021.

“All air monitoring undertaken at the time returned results below or equal to the minimum detection limit (i.e. <0.01 fibres/mL).

“Testing was completed to ensure the areas were fully remediated and clearance certificates issued before the area was open to students and staff, in strict accordance with SafeWork NSW protocols.”

SafeWork NSW spokesperson full statement: