STATE Education Minister Grace Grace has called for Bowman MP Andrew Laming to be sacked as Chair of the Federal Committee on Employment, Education and Training after he made what she says were inflammatory comments about teachers during a Facebook live video.
Ms Grace said Mr Laming's comments calling for parents to ring the police on principals if their child was refused entry to school was an attack on teachers, cleaners and other education staff.
She called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Education Minister Dan Tehan to stand Mr Laming down, questioning whether people could have confidence in his work on the committee after his comments.
- Also read: Karen Williams asks MP Andrew Laming not to sully Redland council candidates during election time
- Also read: Federal Govt drops MP Andrew Laming after he stands strong on impacts of PFAS fire fighting chemical
- Also read: Bowman MP Andrew Laming says stage four coronavirus lockdown less than a one per cent chance as Queensland's daily trends indicate drop in new cases
"Teachers are not criminals, principals are not criminals," Ms Grace said.
"I know Mr Laming is viewed as a maverick by some of his colleagues in Canberra, but once again he has well and truly stepped over the line with his comments."
Redlands MP Kim Richards said multiple teachers and principals had contacted her saying they felt targeted by Mr Laming.
"To make such ridiculous and offensive comments during a global health crisis when everyone, particularly teachers, are doing their best to get through it together is cruel," she said.
"Our parents care, our teachers care, our schools care and our community cares about doing the best we all can in these most complicated and anxious times of our lives.
"Mr Laming's views really could not get any lower."
Mr Laming said Labor was twisting his words and turning his criticism of the state government into an attack on teachers.
He said Labor MPs were increasingly running their social media accounts for the benefit of supporters and would block comments from opposition MPs to avoid being held to account.
Mr Laming has challenged Ms Richards to a Facebook live video debate on Sunday, calling for her to explain her comments that school restrictions were based on the best medical evidence.
"Kim should be able to mount a spirited and evidence-based defence," he said.
"Redlanders deserve to hear both sides, rather than paranoid MPs screaming at their own supporters and hoping no one challenges them."
Capalaba MP Don Brown said Mr Laming was not fit for office and his suggestions that parents should ring the police would be a waste of resources.
"The people of the Redlands deserve better than this," he said. "He needs to do everyone a favour and resign."
Mr Laming said Ms Grace was shown to be out of her depth when he put questions to her about what percentage of Queensland children should be at school under the current guidelines.
"This schools fiasco is a disaster of Labor's own making," he said.
"The evidence is clear from public health experts, that is why child care is open.
"Minister Grace's sobering reminder on national TV today is that children must always be the focus, not the needs of Labor unions."
Mr Laming has been criticised previously for a long list of controversial statements, including taking shots at teachers when he called on social media for people to let him know if teachers were at work or doing lesson planning from home. He wants teacher hours increased and their holidays cut.
He also has been in strife for comments during clashes between Logan Pacific Islander and Aboriginal communities, when he asked "did any of them do a day's work today or was it business as usual and welfare on tap?"
Read more local news here.
