Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (15:02): I want to acknowledge a fabulous school in my electorate, Streeton Primary School in Yallambie. I recently had the opportunity to get to Streeton at the invitation of the principal Leon Bell. I was welcomed also by fabulous members of the school council’s leadership team, led by president Regina, and they were kind enough to take me for a tour of the school’s facilities just before Easter. I know that other members of this place – Mr Puglielli and you, I think, President, and various other Labor members – have recently been to Streeton, so that is fabulous. I am sure that all members who have been to the school would acknowledge that this is a very special school. The standard of education is excellent. The grounds have immense potential. The education on offer is innovative. There are wonderful opportunities for students to work at the school’s permaculture farm and to play in their water oasis, and they have fabulous kitchen facilities, but this school has clearly been let down over a long period of time by chronic underfunding. I do not want to talk down this school, but in my many years in education I have rarely seen a school in such a state of disrepair – holes in the floor, ceilings collapsing – which is having a really deleterious impact on school enrolment, so I am pleased that the member for Bundoora has assured me that there will be a huge funding injection in the budget. I look forward to seeing that eventuate in a few weeks time.