Thursday, 16 November 2023
Motions
Budget papers 2023–24
Motions
Budget papers 2023–24
Debate resumed on motion of Jaclyn Symes:
That the Council take note of the budget papers 2023–24.
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (17:10): I rise again, on this occasion in terms of my response and my contribution in respect to the state budget. Of course most of my comments will be confined to issues that impact on the electorate of Western Victoria, an electorate that I have now represented for over 17 years, and with that the government’s efforts to make sure that no matter where you live in Victoria, whether it be in western, eastern or northern Victoria or metro Melbourne, this government does bring about better schools and health services, better housing and overall better outcomes for all Victorians.
My electorate of Western Victoria geographically comprises nearly one-third of the entire state, and it is the home of very diverse communities and industries. In fact I do not think there is necessarily any one single thread of commonality in Western Victoria, because it is so diverse – whether it be the geography, the types of local economies that exist or the composition of the communities – not just in terms of size but also in terms of where people were born and what their experiences have been. I do note that we have got large regional cities, we have got large rural cities, we have got small towns, we have got coastal villages and we have got manufacturing, although it is not as big as it was in the past. We have manufacturing throughout Western Victoria, but we also importantly have a very serious agricultural industry and very strong food and fibre sectors, and of course tourism is a focal point of Western Victoria. We are very fortunate to have been incredibly blessed to live in an electorate that has got the Twelve Apostles and an amazing coastline. We have the Grampians, we have the You Yangs, we have the beautiful Bellarine and of course broadacreage visuals of the Mallee and beyond. We are very, very fortunate to live in a beautiful place. But of course living in a beautiful place is only one thing; making sure that we have got the facilities and the services that we need to go about our daily business is also incredibly important.
Of course the government has very much been focused on the education system – that is why we are known as the Education State – but also of course the health system, and that has been increasingly highlighted as we have been coming through COVID. It is about making sure that there is sufficient government intervention to ensure that there are high-quality services that enable fairness and equity to be played out in our local communities. We have invested over $1.2 billion in Western Victoria alone in school infrastructure since 2014. This is a proud record, and the 2023–24 budget continues this important work.
We are investing something like $2 million to upgrade Wallington Primary School’s main building, nearly $9 million to upgrade Woodmans Hill Secondary College in Ballarat, $3 million to upgrade Bacchus Marsh’s St Bernard’s Parish Primary School, over $3 million to upgrade Geelong East Primary School, over $7 million to build a competition-grade gym for Western Heights College in Geelong, $3 million to upgrade St Brigid’s College in Horsham, over $8 million to rebuild infrastructure at Melton Secondary College and upgrade their soccer pitch, $5 million to deliver a new campus for St Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Primary School in Melton, $3.69 million for Mount Duneed Regional Primary School and $5 million for Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School in Warrnambool. There is funding for the planning of Kurunjang Secondary College, Melton South Primary, Toolern Vale and District Primary School, Cobden Technical School, Colac West Primary School, Lismore Primary School, Belmont High School, Mount Duneed Secondary College, Edenhope College and Stawell West Primary School. So you can see that this is a government that not only seriously invests and makes announcements with money attached to projects within our school system in western Victoria, but it plans ahead as well. That is why there is such a lengthy list of further schools that will go through a planning process that we will see outcomes for into the future as our local communities in Western Victoria grow. This government is a government that absolutely invests in the infrastructure that is so important to give our kids the very, very best start in life.
This budget also invests $235 million to support students and children with disability or additional needs in school. This will enable easier access to services that they need, whether it be in kinder, primary or secondary school. In addition, government specialist schools are progressively receiving funding for NDIS navigators to help them work through their NDIS complexities. This government has now delivered an upgrade to every single specialist school in Victoria, an amazing achievement. Nowhere is this more obvious than the two schools in south-west Victoria, Hampden Specialist School P–4 and Lake Colac School, formerly known as Colac specialist school. In the last month alone I have been able to go to both of those facilities, and I have got to say they are just amazing. Having been part of that campaign and that community push to get these changes, it is fantastic to actually see the bricks and mortar in place. With Hampden, the kids are already in there in the classrooms, and with Colac coming on board it will mean that kids will be able to attend that school early next year, with the plan being first day, first term next year.
For anyone that is on the Princes Highway going through Colac and they see the old Colac high school on their right-hand as they go towards Camperdown, they will see an amazing change where they have really brought about the modern and the new into something that is incredibly positive. What you will not see is all of the work that is done behind, and it is almost like a mini university campus. It is seriously impressive, and I would encourage you to have a look at that because it has set an amazing standard.
Equally, can I say that in fairly recent previous budgets we have also seen a brand new special school at Portland, and of course we have got the Merri River School, what was the Warrnambool special school, in Warrnambool. Again, these are facilities that are awe inspiring. The kids are so pleased to be in facilities that are fit for purpose, that make them feel comfortable and of course engender a community feel that will only bring out the best in each other. I do look forward to seeing Colac open its doors early next year and being part of the excitement as the kids march into the school.
But it is an opportunity for me to also give a shout-out to the school councils, the parents and staff and the supporting local governments, the shires, who have been so much a part of the campaigns to make sure that our kids that are doing it tough and that have got different ranges of abilities are given the very, very best opportunities. The Hampden Specialist School was a $12 million investment, and the Lake Colac school is a $17 million investment. Again, I know special schools and the issue of disability and access and quality of life are very much on the agenda in our communities, and I am sure that our communities in Western Victoria would like to share our experiences and our learnings from the campaigns that have been run in these communities with other communities if they so wish.
In terms of post-school education, successive budgets have made Victoria’s TAFE and training system better than it has ever been. We are absolutely committed to a post-school education system that is not only underpinned by quality but of course aligned to what is required in terms of the labour market. We make no apologies for the fact that we are absolutely committed to ensuring that what we deliver is actually connected to what is needed by industry and the labour market. To do this we have had to save TAFE, because it was on its knees. We have had to rebuild it, reform it and also transform it in terms of what its core objective is.
Communities right across the state but of course in Western Victoria have now got an opportunity to access TAFE through eligibility provisions which enable people to acquire more than one qualification. They can do qualifications at different levels and indeed in certain streams that are priority areas. They can continue to learn and acquire skills that are required in their local area. There are over 80 free TAFE courses now. There are short courses that are available so that people can upskill as well. This budget invests over $500 million in TAFE and training and reinforces our determination to deliver quality public provision in training and skills in the great facilities that we have in Victoria.
Our continued major capital investments include South West TAFE, with campuses in Warrnambool, Hamilton, Portland and of course Colac. It services much of my electorate and is an exemplar in delivering this government’s key initiatives. When you look at Colac, there was hardly anything there just a few years ago, and now you have got a very vibrant delivery of a range of courses that are assisting the local community. When you look at Warrnambool and their CBD campus, you cannot believe the changes that have taken place, and of course the Warrnambool learning library hub has been located in the middle of that campus as well. That has won massive international architectural awards – Los Angeles, London, you name it. It has been an amazing project, and the community has responded. In the first couple of days of opening, 5000 people went through it. There has been a quadrupling of the library membership, and it is much loved by those that attend South West TAFE, because they need to walk through that library to go to the cafeteria to get their lunch. So we are embedding a culture of reading and learning in all corners of the campus.
We have also revitalised and, in the most recent budget, expanded the trade section of South West TAFE. Sherwood Park, which is located at the Deakin University site at Warrnambool, houses many of the trades that are underway, and in fact they have had a recent awards night where a number of people were congratulated for their levels of excellence being applied. Also in the most recent budget there was a further $5 million awarded to that park for renewable energy training, and I look forward to seeing that come on line. Similarly, there were moneys provided to Federation Uni at Ballarat, where we know they have got an amazing initiative in terms of the wind energy industry. They will be part and parcel of the renewables package that also takes into account the SEC centre of excellence.
There are so many things that are happening in the area of post-school education in western Victoria, all of which we are incredibly proud of because we know we are actually delivering. We are joining the dots with young people in particular but also for those who are wishing to change their careers being able to get the information they need and enrol in a course that they know they will get a job out of at the end of the day if they finish. Can I thank everyone for their efforts, and I look forward to the next iteration of what we need to do in the post-school system.
That this matter be adjourned until the next day of meeting.
Motion agreed to and debate adjourned until next day of meeting.