BOWMAN MP Andrew Laming says his comment calling on parents to ring the police on principals if their kids were turned away from school was deliberately over the top.
He said he made the comment last week to raise the stakes until students were allowed back into classrooms.
Mr Laming said the move had backfired, giving him a national audience to address the matter.
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During a television debate on Friday when Mr Laming asked her what percentage of children were at school, Ms Grace said schools were open to the children of all essential workers.
Mr Laming claimed victory after the interview and has urged all parents with essential jobs to send their kids to school tomorrow, saying staff could no longer question their eligibility after Ms Grace's comments.
He has welcomed news that the state government will begin a staged return to school next week, saying it was the final capitulation for those who were not willing to listen to science.
"I have always referred to it as both medieval and witchcraft and I don't back away from those terms, which are hyperbole," Mr Laming said.
"When there was such a contrasting position to the obvious science and every CHO ... of course I used hyperbole in references to the police.
"At heart what I was saying is that the science was so clear and so clearly being ignored that we simply had to raise the stakes until common sense prevailed and it has today."
Mr Laming has questioned the state's decision for a staged return, asking why certain grades were less worthy of an education.
From May 11, students in kindy, Prep, Years 1, 11 and 12 will return to school.
"I can understand preppies going back because they are the most vulnerable age group and they are also the safest," Mr Laming said.
"The seniors are closest to adults so they, if anyone, are the group you have to social distance and be most cautious with because they are most likely to introduce a case into a school.
"They can't win either way except open schools as I'm calling for.
"My message is, every essential worker and every family that is vulnerable and doing it tough, send your kids to school tomorrow.
"Get help if you are prevented in any way by school staff because the education minister has welcomed you back to school."
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