REDLANDS Labor MP Kim Richards says children and teachers could be put at risk if social distancing rules are relaxed too early, as the LNP calls for schools to be reopened.
Redlands LNP candidate Henry Pike said local schools should be open to all who wished to attend and called on the government to bring forward the day set for students to return.
Schools are set to continue home-based learning, except for vulnerable children and students whose parents are essential workers, until May 22 at the earliest.
"Labor's decision to force kids to stay home is not only detrimental to their education, it is also creating further challenges for our local economy with a drop in productivity for working parents," Mr Pike said.
"I've fielded many calls from local parents who are rightfully annoyed that this decision is significantly disrupting their family's lives for no discernible community benefit."
Ms Richards said the LNP campaign was dishonest and could put children and teachers at risk.
Current Australian health advice is that physical distancing should be maintained. For Queensland schools this has involved limiting the number of children who can attend.
She said the government did not want to see a repeat of what happened in Singapore, which decided to reopen its schools after its March school holidays but shifted to home-based learning in April after a spike in cases.
"Our schools are adapting incredibly well in these challenging times to ensure we limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus," she said.
"Our teachers, support staff, parents and carers are doing an incredible job."
Mr Pike said parents should be allowed to choose whether to send their children to school.
"If parents want to teach their children at home, and are able to do so, they should be able to under the current circumstances," he said.
"But if parents think their kids should be at school, that's where they should be. The Premier shouldn't be making that decision on behalf of Redland parents."
He said families had been failed when the learning@home website crashed on Monday morning.
But Ms Richards said the website had operated perfectly since midday on Monday.
