Wednesday, 19 November 2025

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:40): I start by congratulating the member for Kew on becoming the sixth leader of the Liberal Party in seven years.

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: Six–seven. Shakespeare himself would be impressed. On this side of the house we do believe in teaching respect for everyone in schools through our Respectful Relationships program, but it seems those in the new Leader of the Opposition’s inner circle would disagree with this approach.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Manager of Opposition Business, I am very pleased that the Deputy Premier has started to talk about respect, because there is a lack of respect in this chamber. Members will come to order.

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

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier to come back to his ministers statement.

Ben CARROLL: As Minister for Education, I thought talking about Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers in the English language, was something that would be encouraged by those opposite.

But anyway, I will get on with my statement, because what we are doing in the Allan Labor government is making sure –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Malvern can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Malvern withdrew from chamber.

Ben CARROLL: that the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which recommended the Respectful Relationships initiative, is being implemented across our government, independent, Catholic and private schools, because we know respect begins at school and we know we have to do everything we can to make sure that our young people of today and our adults of tomorrow know about respect.

We also do know that the new Leader of the Opposition in the upper house Mrs McArthur only last month railed against the gender ideology indoctrination of the Respectful Relationships program.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Deputy Premier is defying your ruling and is in breach of other standing orders in relation to behaviour towards members of the other chamber.

Mary-Anne Thomas: Speaker, on the point of order, there is no point of order. The Deputy Premier is taking the opportunity to outline the government’s position in relation to the teaching of Respectful Relationships in our schools. He is contrasting this with the position of Mrs McArthur in the other place. This is factual information that is appropriate in this house.

The SPEAKER: I remind the Deputy Premier to be very careful about reflecting on other members of Parliament.

Ben CARROLL: I congratulate the member for Kew, because unlike the member for Berwick, she knows how to dance with the one that brung ya. We know it is okay to say something on High Street, Kew, but then you say something on Spring Street, Melbourne, to keep the French coalition together.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this is outrageous.

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

James Newbury: You have twice ruled that the Deputy Premier should not behave in this way in a ministers statement, and now, for a third time, in very grubby, disgraceful behaviour –

The SPEAKER: I will not call the Deputy Premier to conclude his ministers statement. The time for questions has ended.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Speaker, I just noted the education minister said ‘brung ya’. Does he mean ‘brought’?

The SPEAKER: The time for questions has ended.