School heater report shows need for immediate action from Firth

Dr Kaye said: "The Woolcock report confirms what the NSW health department was telling private schools years ago.

"Unflued gas heaters are unsafe for kids whether they are standard or low NOx models.

"The report confirms that low NOx is a marketing term, not a scientific description.

"This report should spell the end of unflued gas heaters in the state's public schools.

"The Keneally government has taken the first tentative step towards bringing NSW into line with other states.

"Successive Labor governments have deliberately frustrated the campaign by parents to protect the health of their children

"Students across NSW have suffered four years of unnecessary exposure to toxic fumes.

"Without a timetable and a budget for the replacement of unflued gas heaters the health impacts are set to continue.

"The unequivocal evidence of the Woolcock report shows that any further delay on replacing gas heaters will happen at the expense of students' health.

"After years of frustrating the campaign against unflued gas heaters, the minister has finally been forced to admit the scientific reality that they are inflicting an unacceptable health toll on students

"The challenge is with the minister to respond by finding the money and timetable to eradicate these dangerous heaters before the beginning of next winter.

"Premier Keneally can't handpass this problem to the next government. The Woolcock inquiry demands that action is taken now.

"NSW Education Minister Verity Firth must bring forward the release of the timetable so the public can have confidence that this problem will be fixed," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455