Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
Sarah Courtney has failed as Education Minister.
While the Greens are sorry to hear Ms Courtney has contracted Covid on her overseas holiday, and wish her a speedy recovery, her decision to fly overseas at this time is both foolish and inexcusable.
School goes back a week from today, with no child under 12 double vaccinated and few students boosted.
The back to school plan is a recipe for disaster which is not based on the best public health evidence.
Parents and teachers are highly stressed about safety, and what’s coming out of government is less than reassuring.
Will there be air purifiers in every classroom? Will there be adequate ventilation to prevent Covid transmission?
Like Scott Morrison heading to Hawaii while the country was on fire in 2019, Sarah Courtney abrogated her responsibility just when leadership in the portfolio is most needed.
The same goes for Aged Care Minister, Richard Colbeck who told a Parliamentary committee examining Covid outbreaks in aged care he was too busy to attend, then went to the cricket. Liberal Ministers in key Covid management portfolios at a state and federal level just don’t care enough to do their jobs properly.
Ms Courtney will never regain her credibility as Minister. It is in tatters and she should resign when she recovers and returns from her overseas jaunt.