The Australian Education Union SA Branch and the wider education community said the lack of a minimum standard has left students learning in buildings where asbestos is still present and still being managed under outdated national guidelines that recommend removal only when damaged.
This approach, the union said, is no longer acceptable, and the Government must commit to a comprehensive statewide audit against a minimum standard in its next term, “not just scatter short-term funding at a handful of sites”.
AEU SA president, Jennie-Marie Gorman, said the call is urgent, unavoidable, and backed by emerging evidence.
“Right now, there is no minimum standard that says asbestos must be removed from every preschool, school or TAFE,” Gorman said in a statement.
“We’re still operating under an outdated approach that says asbestos should be removed only when it is damaged.
“The latest research shows that this is not good enough; we need the Government to commit to a minimum standard, audit every site against it, and begin the work of removing asbestos proactively.”
A 2023 evaluation of asbestos removal approaches, conducted by Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency researchers, found that Australia’s current risk-based model is too slow and reactive.
“Parents expect and deserve to know their child’s learning environment is safe,” AEU SA Branch president Jennie-Marie Gorman says. “Without a minimum standard, the truth is we simply cannot guarantee that.” PHOTO: jenniemariegorman instagram
The report recommends shifting from a “manage unless damaged” approach to phased, proactive removal wherever possible, noting that asbestos-containing materials deteriorate over time and pose increasing risk as they age.
Gorman said that “waiting for something to go wrong” is an unacceptable strategy.
“These risks should not be allowed to sit quietly in the background,” she said.
“Parents expect and deserve to know their child’s learning environment is safe. Without a minimum standard, the truth is we simply cannot guarantee that.”
The AEU said asbestos is only one symptom of a wider problem: South Australia has no baseline definition of what a safe, modern, and functional public education facility must contain.
“Students are learning in buildings with leaking roofs, collapsing infrastructure, and decades-old materials,” Gorman said.
“The Government cannot keep promising upgrades at a handful of sites and pretend that’s a system-wide plan. It’s not. We need a comprehensive audit against a minimum standard, and we need every site brought up to scratch.”
The union argues that a minimum standard would create the transparency, prioritisation, and long-term planning currently missing from infrastructure decisions.
“This is not a luxury. It’s basic safety,” Gorman said.
“Every child and student in South Australia should be learning in an environment that’s safe, healthy, and fit for modern learning.
“That starts with removing asbestos, and it ends with a whole-of-system commitment - not another patch-up.”
“South Australia cannot build its future on buildings held together by hope. A minimum standard, an audit, and a statewide plan is the only responsible path forward.”
