Tuesday, 12 August 2025

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:48): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is supporting working-from-home arrangements in the Education State. We know education is not just about economics, it is about equality of opportunity and the right to a fair go. That is why working from home is good for families, is good for businesses, is good for gender equality and is also good for people with disabilities, giving them more options for work. That is why in the Education State our high-intensity outside school hours care initiative is that double dividend for mothers and fathers to contribute in the workplace, whether it be at home or at the workplace, while their children are getting that great intensity of support at their school.

I speak to principals and teachers regularly. Many of them cannot work from home. What they say is they want options for their partners to be able to work from home, and they want more flexible working initiatives and projects in their school community. That is why – even in my own electorate at Strathmore North Primary School – we have provided up to $30 million as part of a statewide initiative to support more working-from-home arrangements for assistant principals to embed shared working arrangements right across the state. The member for Nepean would be very happy about Red Hill Consolidated School, where we have supported the assistant principal to embed shared work across that leadership team. We know working from home works for everybody, and when it is done right it makes sure that you get that double dividend of supporting workers and supporting the whole economy and all parts of it.

We know that not everyone on the other side is supportive of working from home. Who? Well, it is pretty clear who: ‘Liberal MP James Newbury makes a call to cut working from home’, 1 February 2025. I think we are all looking forward to the member for Brighton up against the glass, making sure which public servants are at work and making sure which ones need to be followed up.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier will stand and apologise for using props in the chamber.

Ben CARROLL: I apologise.