Tuesday, 5 May 2026

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Ministers statements: education funding

Ben CARROLL
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Ministers statements: education funding

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (12:31): The Treasurer will soon hand down her 2026–27 budget, and this will be a Labor budget with things that matter to everyday Victorians: more funding and support for health care, more cost-of-living relief and something that is very close to every member on this side of the chamber, more funding for education. I have said it before, and I will say it again: Victoria’s future is written in our classrooms. Our most important resource is not in the ground, it is in our classrooms.

I had the great pleasure to be with the member for Werribee just last Friday in Wyndham Vale. We were out in a paddock, but under this Premier and this Labor government we are going to transform that paddock into a state-of-the-art, 21st-century public secondary school that will change the life of everyone that goes through it. This budget has new schools, more funding for planning and more expansions. We are upgrading 55 public schools in every corner of this state.

I would have thought that was good news for everybody, but not for the Leader of the Opposition. She has come out and opposed every single one of these measures. You heard that right: every single one of them.

James Newbury interjected.

The SPEAKER: I ask you not to use unparliamentary language, member for Brighton. I can hear you.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, this is not an opportunity for the Deputy Premier to sledge the opposition.

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

Ben CARROLL: I have kept my posts up on this matter because it is so important for every Victorian to know about it. I will not delete posts that tell the truth. That is why whether it is Maribyrnong College in Footscray, whether it is the Maryborough Education Centre in Ripon, whether it is Yarrawonga College in Ovens Valley, whether it is Boroondara Park Primary School in Kew, we know Labor is on your side. When it comes to education the Liberals only know one thing, and that is cuts.
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