Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Michaela SETTLE (Eureka) (10:50): I rise today to celebrate a fantastic outcome for the Ballan community, one that has been years in the making. The recent announcement of new school zoning arrangements will see the town of Ballan now zoned Daylesford College. This is a change that local families have strongly advocated for and one that reflects the real connections and needs of our community. For several years parents in Ballan have raised with me the challenges that they have faced under previous zoning arrangements. They have spoken about travel, about community ties and about wanting their children to attend a school that better reflects where they live and how they live. I was very pleased to stand with them in that advocacy, including presenting a petition to the Minister for Education calling for this change, and today we see the result of that advocacy. I want to sincerely thank the Minister for Education for listening to the voices of Ballan parents and recognising the importance of getting school zoning right for regional communities. I thank the Daylesford school council and principal for their advocacy, and I also thank their wonderful local member the member for Macedon for her advocacy for this amazing change. This is a great example of community voices being heard and acted upon. To the families of Ballan: this outcome belongs to you.