Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Ministers statements: new schools

Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education) (14:21): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to delivering new schools right across our state. We have already opened 21 new schools in 2017 and 2018. We made a commitment to build and open 100 new schools over the next eight years. We have already opened nine of those schools this year, 11 more will open next year, 14 in 2021 and 13 will open in 2022. But there is something more important than bricks and mortar, and that is leadership.

I am pleased to inform the house that principals have now been appointed at all the new schools that will open next year. They are: Armstrong Creek West Primary School, and I visited that stunning school with a member earlier this month, Botanic Ridge Primary School in Cranbourne, Casey Fields Primary School in Cranbourne, Clyde North East Primary School in Bass, Craigieburn South Secondary School in Yuroke, Davis Creek Primary School in Tarneit, Keysborough South Primary School in Keysborough, Lucas Primary School in Ripon, Point Cook South Senior Secondary School in Altona, Wyndham South Primary School in Werribee, and Beveridge Primary School, where the existing principal will oversee both of those campuses.

These principals will be highly visible leaders of their school communities, engaging with local families, appointing key staff, creating a culture of excellence in their brand-new schools. No-one would describe these principals as being invisible. No-one will be asking, ‘What have they done?’. As some members would agree—where is the member for Gembrook?—that question is more appropriately asked of the Leader of the Opposition. These new principals, in stark contrast, have the backing and support of their schools.