Wednesday, 5 February 2025

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (19:09): (984) My adjournment this evening is to the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to update the Mordialloc constituency on the anticipated completion of the Mordialloc Beach Primary School capital works. Mordialloc Beach Primary School has been serving our community for over 150 years. Led most recently by our amazing principal Sue Leighton-Janse, we have seen this school go from strength to strength over its many years. Just to see at the end of last year their student graduation, which I have had the chance to attend for the last decade, was truly a humbling experience. To see the kids go through that and then as they go into high school and then into later life – it is a really moving thing to see what this school means for so many kids in our community and their growth and development.

They are supported by some of the best educators you will find in our state, people who each and every day go over and above to support the youngest Victorians to realise their dreams and aspirations in the classroom. I will give a big shout-out to all our educators and education support staff who started out in 2025. Over a million students are in the Victorian education system, and our preppies are starting to onboard across our primary schools in more than 1200 primary schools across the patch. It is a really exciting time for schools as they onboard and take on the next year and their aspirations.

These works are part of a series of upgrades to our schools across our community. It was not long ago that there was no capital works program for a number of years in our community. Now we see every primary school and secondary school across independent, government and Catholic education has benefited from upgrades in our local community, because we want the first-class education that happens in our community to be matched by the best possible facilities, and that is why the modernisation that is occurring to A block and the B building is really critical for my local community. It is coming out of the ground right now. When you drive past on Barkly Street or Albert Street, it is one of the best sights.

There is a bit going on in Mordialloc. There are of course the level crossing removal works, which are going to be in full flight in just a little while. It is going to be a busy time around our patch as our community sees what Labor governments deliver: transformational investments and generational-significant investments that will support our communities in the many years to come. When it comes to education, when it comes to health care and when it comes to the vital infrastructure that people rely on in our community, in the Kingston and Keysborough South community, they know Labor governments have got their back. I am really proud to see the Mordialloc Beach Primary School works get underway, and I cannot wait for the Minister for Education to update my community on the progress of those works.