Thursday, 13 November 2025

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:27): As we end the term and the school year, I think it is a good opportunity in the chamber to pay tribute to our hardworking teachers and our hardworking students, particularly those that have been doing hard work in the area of maths. Let us just go and put some statistics together. When you add 926 firefighters, 4500 police, 9000 teachers and 18,000 nurses, what do you get? Well, the answer is the number of jobs those opposite will cut to fund the member for Kew’s budget black hole of $11 billion. Because on this side of the chamber –

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, the Deputy Premier should know that even ministers statements are not an opportunity to attack the opposition.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that ministers use ministers statements as –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the Leader of the House.

Mary-Anne Thomas: It is entirely appropriate that ministers use ministers statements to compare and contrast the position of the government with those who would pretend to seek office in our state.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier will come back to his ministers statement. I remind all members and all ministers not to attack the Speaker.

Ben CARROLL: What adds up to $11 billion is 926 hardworking firefighters, 4500 police officers, 9000 teachers and 18,000 nurses. That equals $11 billion –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Kew!

Ben CARROLL: which we know the member for Kew has put on the public record as what she needs. But also think about the doctors in schools program, the school breakfast clubs program, the Glasses for Kids program.

When it comes to our hardworking teachers, we say they deserve nationally competitive wages. The shadow minister says any wage increase for teachers is worrying. We are on the side of hardworking teachers, while the shadow minister says any pay rise for teachers is worrying. Mr Mulholland in the other place has put on the public record that he does not support pay rises for teachers. He is quoted as saying that it is worrying. He is also on the record saying that we need to cut cost-of-living measures for families. There is only one thing we know Mr Mulholland will not cut, and that is his private membership to the men-only club that he has got on his register of interests.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Kew!

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, I would ask you not to reflect on the Speaker.