Tuesday, 14 May 2024

Ministers statements: schools funding

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:42): On this side of the house we know health and education go hand in hand. We know that what children are taught is just as important as how they are taught. That is why we know well that all the evidence shows that the interventions you make early give you a lifetime of dividends. That is why we are investing in free glasses for children. It is very hard to learn if you have impaired eyesight. It is why we have rolled out more than 40 million breakfasts in this state as a government, and it is why the latest budget has more money for our breakfast program so that every school across Victoria that wants to be part of it can be part of it. That is the equivalent of adding six grand finals of students every year to the school breakfast club program. We know they can concentrate better and the classroom is calmer if they are there on a full tummy. More than that, it is a program where every meal is a collaboration. From Foodbank – and I thank Dave McNamara, the CEO of Foodbank – our farmers and our manufacturers to our volunteers like the Lions clubs and Rotary clubs, they are all part of our breakfast program, because we know we will never leave children behind.

We also know the budget has great money and investment for school upgrades, including a big school upgrade in the opposition leader’s electorate of Hawthorn, because under our government 50 per cent of schools built across Australia have been built right here in Victoria over the past decade. That is what building the Education State is all about – making sure you put investments where you are going to get the biggest dividends. We know that every year of education post year 12 adds between 6 and 12 per cent to incomes in our workforce. Growing the economy, investing in education and investing in health, the Allan Labor government stands with Victorian people, stands with Victorian families and stands with Victorian students.

Gabrielle de Vietri: On a point of order, Speaker, I have the following questions awaiting overdue responses, some of which are up to six months late: question 725 on vacant public housing; questions ‍869, 870, 872, 1031, 1033 and 1034, all on public housing; question 880 on the disability royal commission; question 881 on funding community legal centres; question 892 on accessible tram stops; questions 935, 936, 937 and 1128 on rental disputes; questions 999 and 1000 on air conditioning in high-rise public housing; question 1030 on rentals headleased by the government; question 1032 on staffing costs for Homes Victoria; and question 1039 on fees for people wanting to change their sex on birth certificates.

The SPEAKER: Please hand your list to the Clerk.

Bridget Vallence: Speaker, I wish to raise a point of order on a vast number of questions that have failed to be answered by the ministers in this Labor government: 535, an adjournment matter to the Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC; questions on notice 943, 945, 957, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1055, 1076, 1077, 1078, 1079, 1081, 1083, 1085, 1086, 1087, 1112 and 1113 to the Minister for Jobs and Industry, the Minister for Public and Active Transport, the Minister for Skills and TAFE, the Minister for Economic Growth and the Minister for Education. My community wonders what they are doing. Could you please have them answer my questions.

The SPEAKER: That is not a way to raise a point of order. Please give your list to the Clerk.

David Southwick: On a point of order, Speaker, I have one unanswered question, and that is to Minister Shing, question 983 re Grosvenor estate. I have raised this several times with the minister since January 17, and I ask that you direct the minister to answer question 983.

Tim Bull: On a point of order, Speaker, I have 28 questions overdue at the current time. I will not read through the full list, but 22 of the 28 date back to 2022.

Kim Wells: No way!

Tim Bull: I’m serious, Kim – two years old. I know that you have raised these before, Speaker, but I would urge you to please raise these important matters with the ministers again. They are important issues to my electorate.

The SPEAKER: Please pass the list to the Clerk.

Emma Kealy: Speaker, I raise a point of order regarding question 583, which is in relation to wild dog management. It has not yet been responded to. I ask you to follow that up, please.

Tim Read: On a point of order, Speaker, I have got three questions overdue: 693 to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, 816 to the Minister for Health and 817 to the Minister for Development Victoria.