"An excellent COVID-19 safety plan has been developed for parliament that includes rapid antigen testing, mask-wearing, social distancing and upgraded ventilation systems. A strictly limited number of members would be permitted in the chamber and there will be remote online participation of members. As the opposition Whip in the Upper House, I have spent time examining the plan in great detail, and it is among the strictest set of work practices in our state’s workplaces." [Mark Buttigeig MLC, in The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 September 2021]
When it comes to a complete suite of COVID-19 pandemic health response measures across the entire population, first the Berejiklian and now the Perrottet, NSW governments have rarely been proactive unless pushed.
If the world we live in had attained true equality and equity our children would be having their schools fitted out with high quality ventilation systems, but they are not.
This e-petition set out below has yet to reach the 10,000 signature target which would mean it will be considered by the NSW Parliament.
The SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Outbreak & COVID-19 infection spread generally are far from over.
Please sign for the sake of kindergarten, primary & high school students across the state.
This petition is not the complete answer but it is a good start. Bringing community concerns right into the Legislative Assembly, where history through Hansard makes every single one of the current 93 members accountable. Make people power count!
NSW Parliament e-Petition with close date 21 October 2021:
Signing ePetition
To sign the ePetition, confirm you are a resident of New South Wales and enter your title, first name and last name. Once you click ‘submit’ you will have signed the ePetition and will be re-directed to the Legislative Assembly’s ‘ePetitions open for signature’ page
Covid-19 safety measures in schools: ventilation & air filtration
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
We call upon the NSW government to take immediate action to ensure adequate ventilation is installed and maintained in Primary Schools. The current measures undertaken by the Department of Education to ensure windows and doors are able to be opened is not sufficient.
Covid-19 is an airborne disease. Ventilation, along with vaccination and vital covid-safe steps, are essential to keep children safe. Children under 12 years of age are not currently eligible for vaccination, so adequate ventilation in Primary Schools is a priority.
OzSAGE, a network of public health experts, believes ventilation in classrooms is a key requirement for the safe lifting of restrictions in NSW. Their stance is supported by both the CDC in the USA and the ECDC across Europe.
In the NSW Parliament, the upper house ventilation system has been upgraded to ensure eight exchanges of fresh air every hour on the advice of health experts. Our children should be afforded the same protection as our elected officials.
We are asking for a state-wide ventilation plan to include:
• Carbon dioxide monitors to be installed in classrooms
• Air purification devices (including HEPA filters) to be distributed
• Funding for shade sails to increase outdoor learning spaces and make it easier for classes to be conducted outdoors
With Kindy and Stage 1 children returning to classrooms on the 25th October 2021, we implore you to take urgent action to ensure our children’s health and safety.
To sign online go to:
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/Pages/ePetition-details.aspx?q=rpEwNg2UB9+LpW1NhPZzdA==
BACKGROUND
"COVIDSAFE Plan to support the sittings of the Legislative Council (LC)" at:
