news, local news, hillcrest, tragedy, jump, castle, ban, tasmania, queensland, federal
Further bans on castles and inflatables in public schools have yet to be implemented as the massive toll from Thursday’s Hillcrest Primary tragedy takes shape. On Friday afternoon, the Tasmanian Department of Education implemented a formal ban on devices in public schools as it continued to fight the fallout from the incident that left five children dead. READ MORE: Man tests positive for COVID-19 in northern Tasmania children were inside. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education told Australian Community Media that the ban on inflatables was outside the ministry’s purview. “The Australian government cannot impose a ban on inflatable amusement devices in Australian schools,” he said. “Such a ban falls within the purview of state and territory governments, which are responsible for ensuring the provision and regulation of education for all school-aged children within their jurisdiction.” The Tasmanian department initially invoked the ban immediately after the events of Thursday morning before formalizing it and expanding communications to the entire department. But at least two other states have not imposed bans on inflatable devices. A spokeswoman for the Queensland Department of Education confirmed that there were no plans to set up an inflatable device group following what happened at Hillcrest. “Due to the important safety measures and risk mitigation measures put in place, the Department does not intend to immediately ban this type of play equipment,” she said. The spokeswoman said Queensland had “some of the strictest occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the country”. “The Department and public schools also have extensive safety policies for on-site activities,” she said. READ MORE: Launceston travel agency ‘still sees a lot of hesitation’ Part of these occupational health and safety laws require inflatable devices used in Queensland to be inspected every 12 months. A spokeswoman for the NSW Education Department could not confirm that a ban has been imposed on inflatable devices in the state, but said a “review” of the “findings and recommendations ”arising from the Hillcrest inquiry would take place“ when [the findings] become available. “The Departments of Education in Western Australia and South Australia were contacted for comment, but had not responded on time. A national standard and the regulation of the operation of obstacle towers in Tasmania is the responsibility of the Department of Justice. Part of these regulations in Tasmania require that any inflatable device be regulated with WorkSafe and have undergone a series of checks and balances according to national standards. Our reporters work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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But the Tasmanian Department stood alone in introducing the ban, which would continue at least during investigations into what caused the Jumping Castle at Hillcrest to soar 10 meters into the air as children were there. .
A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Education said Australian community media the prohibition of inflatable structures was not the responsibility of the ministry.
“The Australian government cannot impose a ban on inflatable amusement devices in Australian schools,” he said.
“Such a ban falls within the purview of state and territory governments, which are responsible for ensuring the provision and regulation of education for all school-aged children within their jurisdiction.”
The Tasmanian department initially invoked the ban immediately after the events of Thursday morning before formalizing it and expanding communications to the entire department.
But at least two other states have not imposed bans on inflatable devices.
A spokeswoman for the Queensland Department of Education confirmed that there were no plans to set up an inflatable device group following what happened at Hillcrest.
“Due to the important safety measures and risk mitigation measures put in place, the Department does not intend to immediately ban this type of play equipment,” she said.
The spokeswoman said Queensland had “some of the strictest occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the country”.
“The Department and public schools also have extensive safety policies for on-site activities,” she said.
Part of these occupational health and safety laws require that inflatable devices used in Queensland be inspected every 12 months.
A spokeswoman for the NSW Education Department could not confirm that a ban has been placed on inflatable devices in the state, but said a “review” of the “findings and recommendations ”arising from the Hillcrest inquiry would take place“ when [the findings] become available “.
The education departments in Western Australia and South Australia were contacted for comment, but had not responded within the deadline.
Obstacle castles are regulated under a national standard, and the regulation of the operation of obstacle castles in Tasmania is the responsibility of WorkSafe under the Department of Justice.
Part of these regulations in Tasmania require that any inflatable device be regulated with WorkSafe and have undergone a series of checks and balances in accordance with national standards.
Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content:
