Thursday, 27 August 2026

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Education, Minister for Skills and Training, Minister for First Peoples, Minister for Women and Gender Equality) (14:04): I said yesterday that Labor is indeed the Education State, but this is not just through offering our educators the best paying conditions in the country. On this side of the house we are literally building the Education State one new and upgraded school at a time. We are investing in schools, schools and even more schools. In fact we are building and upgrading more schools than anywhere else in the country, and we are not stopping. That is 121 new schools built, with two new schools opening next year. The new primary school for Aintree North will support up to 700 students in that fast-growing community, and I know the member for Kororoit cannot wait to open the doors to her community on that one. The new specialist school for Officer will support up to 144 students, giving them a high-quality education close to home. I know this one project is very close to the heart of the member for Pakenham, who recently met with the principal to share the excitement for day one. These new schools are on top of the 2400 ‍upgrades this government has delivered to Victorian schools, including of course the brand new classroom opened by the Premier just a few days ago at Bellaire Primary School in Highton.

It is quite the contrast with those opposite. While this government has invested more than $20 billion in new and upgraded schools for Victorian students where they are needed most, those opposite are plotting out which schools, which hospitals, which services they will be cutting –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the Deputy Premier is a repeat offender in misusing ministers statements to attack the opposition – a serial offender.

The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. The Deputy Premier to come back to her ministers statement. Member for Brighton, if you wish to raise a point of order, please do so in the correct way. Deputy Premier, without attacking the opposition.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: The Education State is not just a tagline on a numberplate; it is reality, and it is backed up by real investment – more than $20 billion in new and upgraded schools for Victorian students. Meanwhile, those opposite continue to plot with their One Nation colleagues and $40 billion of cuts.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, as I raised with you both yesterday and on Tuesday, the misuse of ministers statements is just out of control. I would ask if you –

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: I believe that I have raised a point of order on every single ministers statement this week. It is just unacceptable to misuse them to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: Again I remind the member for Brighton of the correct way to raise a point of order. I remind ministers again that in their ministers statements they will not attack the opposition.