Tasmania's Education Minister is isolating with coronavirus in France just days out from the start of the school year.
Sarah Courtney has been on holiday in Europe for several weeks, drawing criticism from the Opposition and Greens as stressed parents prepare to send their children to school.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Premier Peter Gutwein revealed Ms Courtney had been unable to return to Tasmania this week as planned after testing positive for coronavirus.
"I would hope that she would be here before the school year starts on the 9th," Mr Gutwein said.
Mr Gutwein unveiled the state government's back-to-school plan late last month without his Education Minister.
The plan includes the distribution of COVID-19 packs for all families, including two rapid antigen tests per child.
Mr Gutwein, who fell ill last year from burnout, defended the timing of Ms Courtney's European holiday as "perfectly appropriate".
"I know myself late last year what can happen if you don't take a break."
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff has been acting education minister in Ms Courtney's absence.
Ms Courtney is also Minister for Tourism, Hospitality, Events, Skills, Training, Workforce Development, Children, Youth and Disability Services.
While Ms Courtney holidayed, the Education Department asked some staff to reconsider their planned leave.
Relief teachers and those who had retired were also contacted to ask if they could fill potential staff shortages in the event of school-based coronavirus outbreaks.
Labor, Greens attack Courtney over holiday
Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said it was a "complete debacle".
"Minister Courtney last year basically told school staff, 'Don't go on holidays in the term holidays because you're on your own, you won't get COVID leave,' so it seems to be one rule for school staff last year and it seems to be a different rule for Minister Courtney this year," he said.
"We're going to see our school staff under immense pressure next week, particularly when COVID arrives in their schools, and it's vitally important that we have a minister available to deal with the issues as they arise."
The Greens called on Ms Courtney to resign, likening her decision to take a break to Prime Minister Scott Morrison's trip to Hawaii during mainland bushfires in 2019.
"The back-to-school plan is a recipe for disaster which is not based on the best public health evidence," Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said.
"Ms Courtney will never regain her credibility as minister. It is in tatters and she should resign when she recovers and returns from her overseas jaunt."
