Tuesday, 17 February 2026

 Belinda WILSON (Narre Warren North) (15:14): I am here to talk about schools, schools and more schools, because we are the Education State. I had the pleasure of turning the sod at James Cook Primary School in Endeavour Hills. Anne and her team are absolutely beside themselves about the amazing upgrade that the Allan Labor government is giving our area. We are upgrading and modernising the school to give students a better learning space. We are constructing a single-storey classroom and admin building out the front of the school, and we are refurbishing all the old buildings at the back, which is going to be absolutely amazing.

At Southern Cross Primary we are building an inclusive outdoor space, which will give children of all abilities new ways to socialise, develop and learn through play. We are also upgrading the school’s hardcourt, and this includes replacing the basketball courts, retaining wall fence and basketball and netball hoops. Fountain Gate Secondary College, Maramba Primary School, Chalcot Lodge Primary School and Thomas Mitchell Primary School have all received a quarter of a million dollars to upgrade their bathrooms, which is part of our capital works funding program. Hallam Primary School have been given some money for planning to build a new learning facility, which is just about ready to go. We really enjoyed that process. At Fleetwood Primary School we have upgraded their bathrooms, with new water fountains and a brand new fence around the school too. And let us not forget Hallam Secondary College: $24.2 million allocated, a new builder appointed, just about to turn the sod on that. We on this side of the fence do not cut Fresh Fruit Friday, we invest in education, because we are the Education State.