Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:11): The education revolution continues under the Allan Labor government, with today’s massive announcement that will make a big difference in the Education State. It was wonderful to join the member for Footscray out at Footscray City Primary School today to make a really important announcement that will save parents money but also improve and support children in the classroom. No longer, from 2027, will parents need to purchase for between $500 and $800 a digital device for their children. That will save parents money in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. More than that, we will be a state that will introduce time limits on screen time in the classroom: from zero to 2, minimal screen time, and from 3 to 6, no more than 90 minutes. This will be a circuit breaker for students, teachers and families, because the evidence is clear that excessive screen time impacts academic growth, attention span, social skills and wellbeing. We know we want optimal learning in the classroom. That is why we are the state that banned mobile phones, why we lead from the front with the Commonwealth on their social media ban and why today we are announcing the reduction of screen time in the classroom. This is about getting students off their phones and focused on their work. And look at those opposite on their phones, on their digital devices, looking at their spreadsheets, moving one member from one pile to the other.

James Newbury interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brighton, I ask you apologise.

James Newbury: I apologise. On a point of order, Speaker, ministers statements are not an opportunity to sledge the opposition.

The SPEAKER: I do ask the Deputy Premier to come back to his ministers statement.

Ben CARROLL: Ninety minutes is all you need. That is all the Leader of the Opposition gave the member for Brighton as the Shadow Treasurer before he shafted him to put the member for Kew into the shadow portfolio. We know that while we are giving students and teachers time back for learning it looks like the opposition leader, looking at the backbench, has well and truly today run out of time.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Sandringham can leave the chamber for half an hour. That is a bad spot to be sitting, member for Sandringham. Member for Croydon, you will be next.

Member for Sandringham withdrew from chamber.