Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:47): While Labor have been in government we have been focused on one thing. It is not party politics and it is not leadership ballots; it is ensuring that every Victorian student has access to live a life of purpose and to fulfil their full potential in the Education State. This year’s NAPLAN results show you that we are on track and that our investments are delivering results. This year not only did we achieve the best results in the nation, we achieved the best results in Victoria’s history. In a year when we delivered treaty, we have delivered the best results in the nation for First Nations students, something that on this side of the chamber we are all very proud of. Our NAPLAN results are no accident. We know when they were last in office we slipped down the rankings in NAPLAN. Our long-term investment and our long-term focus on equity and excellence are delivering results. It has meant a long-term investment in mandated explicit instruction for literacy and mathematics, and it has meant mandated investments in building, updating and modernising our schools. Fifty per cent of schools being built around the country right now are being built right here under Jacinta Allan in Victoria, the Education State.

But we are not stopping there. Important cost-of-living support is making sure that the hungry child does not go without – that, through the school breakfast program, they have a full tummy to get through the day of school. It is making sure that the child that has vision impairment can access the Glasses for Kids program and also making sure that every child has dignity on day one at school through our affordable school uniform program – a brand new, clean school uniform. And we know there is always more to do. Next year we will deliver our 100 new schools in 2026, we will remove the requirement for parents to buy digital devices in primary schools and we will be the first state to introduce screen limits in primary school classrooms. This is the investment of a long-term, stable government. We know Victorians know we stand – (Time expired)