They are either completely safe or they are not.

Even modern unflued gas heaters cannot be installed in bedrooms and they come with safety precautions when installed in the living areas of homes.

It is also simple physics that burning gas to generate heat requires oxygen. While modern flued heaters draw their oxygen from the outside atmosphere and expel gases created during combustion to the outside world, older unflued heaters don’t. 

The latter suck the oxygen out of the classroom and replace it with potentially deadly gases. At best it makes for drowsy students in winter. At worst it could trigger asthma or other serious health problems.

Why then is the department dragging the chain on replacing unflued heaters in some classrooms at Molong?

It maintains that the heaters in question at Molong are safe, yet it has installed electric split systems in some rooms and recommended opening windows for ventilation in others. It’s hardly a solution which will inspire the confidence of parents.

The bottom line is that offering half the money to buy new heaters is no solution. It would not be acceptable in the state’s non government schools and would probably not be acceptable in state government offices even in areas with milder winters than the Central Tablelands.

If the department is concerned enough to allocate half the money to upgrade the heaters it cannot in conscience wait for the old heaters to reach the end of their operating life or for the parents to provide a basic amenity like safe heating. That is clearly the responsibility of the government in a state school.