Tuesday, 5 March 2024

 Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Education. Why, in a cost-of-living crisis, are the parents of Victorian government school students paying the highest fees of any state?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:30): Can I thank the member for Kew for her question. In our school system – do not take only my word but that of the Productivity Commission – we are leading the nation on investment in schools. I have not opened 10 new schools in the past month, I have opened 14 new schools. We have put $31 billion –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, just to assist on relevance, I think the minister misunderstood the question. It was in relation to the cost of schools.

The SPEAKER: I understand what the question is, Manager of Opposition Business. The question referred to government schools. The minister was, so far, being relevant to the question.

Ben CARROLL: Just on that particular issue, I hosted education ministers from right around Australia last Friday, and they realised we are doing more as a government than any other state or territory. Those opposite cut Free Fruit Friday; we brought it back – 4000 breakfast programs, the school glasses program, the school uniform program. We are getting on with building more schools – more investment not only in our schools and our teachers but in the very first 1000 days in a child’s life, the new start allowance. We are getting on and making sure, no matter your background, no matter who you are, you can go from playing tennis to being the Leader of the Opposition and making sure you can do what you do. You can fulfil your dreams in this state, and you can get on and do what you want to do.

Under the Allan Labor government we are investing more in education than any other state, not $10 billion, not $20 billion – try $30.8 billion invested in education across this state. That has led to 2000 school upgrades –

Jess Wilson: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was very specific about government school fees, and I am happy to table the ACARA data for the minister.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Ben CARROLL: It goes to the cost of living. We are doing more for our schools than ever before. Those opposite should know and the member for Kew should know that it is our government that is doing more for our schools and investing more in our schools than any other state. The Productivity Commission itself came out with a report that showed Victoria is leading. Whether it is the free glasses program, the program on breakfast clubs, whether it is supporting women with free pads and tampons right across our state, we are doing more than any other state. The opposition should know better. The party of financial responsibility should be investing more in their policy development rather than looking for a messiah and rather than looking for another bloke to lead the opposition.

Members interjecting.

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

Member for Mordialloc withdrew from chamber.

 Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:34): Given that the government has flagged cuts to education in the upcoming budget, will parents be hit by even higher fees?

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:34): I ‍think those opposite could do with a bit more support from the Smile Squad program. That is something they should be getting to very soon. Smile a bit more over there – come on, fire up. On this side of the chamber we know you change the dial on disadvantage more than any other school – that has got them smiling. That is good, isn’t it? We know our $30.8 billion is doing what it needs to do – growing our teacher workforce faster than any other state; not opening 10 new schools in one month, opening 14 new schools; opening 100 new schools by the time of the next election.

We are getting on with delivering everything we need to. We are very proud on this side of the chamber to be the Education State. That is why we have more people applying to be a teacher than any other state or territory. Enrolments for teaching are up over 10 per cent. That is the first time in decades. People know that if you want to change your life, if you want to go from being a tennis player to being a politician or Leader of the Opposition, you get an education, and that is what we are about in this state.