‘Unacceptable’: Education Minister’s urgent plea after asbestos-laced sand forces 450 schools to shut

South Australia’s education minister has called for the federal government to hold an urgent inquiry into asbestos-laced coloured sand, forcing more than 450 schools across the country to temporarily close their doors and setting them back thousands of dollars. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued a nationwide recall of colourful Kadink decorative sand due to a suspected link to asbestos, prompting cleaning teams to safely remove the products from classrooms and playgrounds. On Tuesday, more than 450 schools across South Australia were added to the list of sites affected by the colourful kinetic sand recall. “ The Department is working with the availability of licenced contractors to ensure all sites reporting loose sand are cleared as soon as possible,” a statement read. “Areas remain cordoned off until loose sand is cleared.” South Australia Education Minister Blair Boyer has urged the federal government to take immediate action and complete an inquiry into the recall stating the extensive cleaning needed would cost schools thousands. He confirmed he would pen a letter to the federal government requesting an “urgent inquiry” to ensure the dangerous recall doesn’t happen again, as it diverts funds away from the teachers and students. “Across the country, these recalled products have forced school, preschool and early learning centre closures, along with costly specialised cleaning,” his letter reads. “In South Australia, licensed removal and cleaning at a single school has been costed at $11,000. This will be replicated across thousands of sites nationally. “That is funding diverted away from teaching and learning due to a failure in product and import regulation. “These products were sold through major retailers and are likely in the homes of hundreds of thousands of families.” He said while the asbestos risk is “low”, it was “unacceptable” for children’s products with the deadly substance to be imported, distributed and sold. “Parents, educators and communities need confidence that this cannot happen again,” he said. “A national inquiry is required to determine how this occurred and what safeguards must be strengthened to prevent any repeat.” Following the recall, schools across the nation have temporarily shut their doors as they work to remove any trace of the dangerous substance. In the past week, the recall has forced hundreds of schools to temporarily close, including 72 public schools in the ACT, and one independent school in Queensland. Overnight, more than 40 schools in Tasmania were shut or partially shut due to the recall. The state’s education minister Jo Palmer said an audit had been undertaken of all school across Tasmania, which determined the health risk was “low”. “Respirable asbestos fibres have not been detected, however we are taking a proactive approach,” she said.