Thursday, 10 February 2022

Ministers statements: schools funding

Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health) (14:17): I rise to update the house on the delivery of the Andrews government’s 100 new schools commitment for communities right across Victoria. Our student enrolments continue to grow. Last week I was delighted to visit some of the 14 new schools that opened their doors for the first time for day one, term 1, of the 2022 school year. All schools opened in a COVID-safe way, including with air purifiers, vaccine mandates, masks indoors except when you are addressing students—much like this place. It is very simple to understand for most people. On the first day of term 1—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! When the house comes to order—there is too much excitement—the Minister for Education has the call.

Mr MERLINO: On the first day of term 1 I joined the Minister for Health for the opening of Port Melbourne Secondary College and the member for Bentleigh for the opening of the McKinnon Secondary College east campus. For the rest of the week I joined the member for Bass and the member for Cranbourne in opening Clyde Creek Primary School and Clyde Secondary College. In Bass Coast the member for Bass and I opened the new San Remo campus of Bass Coast College. In the north-west the Minister for Youth and I opened Greenvale Secondary College and for Kalkallo families the new Gilgai Plains Primary School. We have opened Strathtulloh Primary School in the member for Melton’s electorate as well as Willowbank Primary School for the Gisborne community in the Minister for Agriculture’s electorate. To put it in perspective, 14 stunning new schools in one year for 6000 students—numbers that will continue to grow. They are part of our 100 schools by 2026. There are alternatives. You could promise four, which is what those miserable people opposite did.