Thursday, 16 November 2023

Ministers statements: schools funding

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:08): I rise to update the house about the Allan Labor government’s record investment in schools right across our state. We are doing what matters: $15 billion has been invested. We are upgrading all schools right across our state. We will have 100 new schools upgraded by the end of this term, including 75 of that 100 by the beginning of next term. We are the top of the class for NAPLAN but, more than that, we are the top of the class for teacher recruitment – 5000 teachers recruited over the past two years.

John Pesutto: 40 per cent leave in the first five years, Ben.

Ben CARROLL: Here they go, here they go, the people that closed schools – and his predecessor was the real estate agent while they were being closed. Don’t you remember? We remember. On this side of the house –

The SPEAKER: Order! Through the Chair, Minister!

Ben CARROLL: we are proud about building the Education State. Can I say we are also proud about building the Education State in Mulgrave. Some 16 schools have been built in Mulgrave. It is an impressive list: $3.8 million for Mulgrave Primary, $6.1 million for the music amphitheatre at Brandon Park Primary.

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: The professor will like this one, because this is on his subject.

David Southwick: Don’t get desperate!

The SPEAKER: Order! The house will come to order. The member for Caulfield is warned – and you are very fortunate to get a warning.

Ben CARROLL: Professor, this is on STEM – science and technology – which you have got qualifications in, and this is great. So, the new community hub –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 108, I would ask that all members be referred to by their correct title.

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to come back to his –

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: Speaker, I was only referring to the title that the member put on his own biography.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will come back to his ministers statement and refer to members by their correct titles.

Ben CARROLL: Thank you, Speaker. But we could not do this without a willing partner in the local community, and we do have a willing partner in the mayor, Eden. Eden Foster knows education because she has worked in education as a school psychologist, and I very much look forward to welcoming her on our benches soon to also continue building the Education State in Mulgrave. We have only just started building –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Narracan can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Narracan withdrew from chamber.

Ben CARROLL: You cannot do this all by yourselves, and as the mayor out in Dandenong has shown, with a willing partner you can build the Education State locally and get on with it.