Wednesday, 13 August 2025

 Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:47): I rise to speak on the Victorian state budget – budget paper 3, ‘Service Delivery’ – of this year. Specifically I wish to talk about schools funding and all the investments, and indeed I might cross over into budget paper 4 a little bit here as well. In terms of schools funding, this government is continuing to provide under the leadership of Jacinta Allan and Ben Carroll, making Victoria the Education State. We have seen record investment in new schools, we have seen record investment in upgrading our existing schools and we have seen new and innovative ways of teaching, such as phonics, which is already having an impact on our school results.

Ann-Marie Hermans interjected.

Michael GALEA: Mrs Hermans, you should be applauding the Victorian students for the NAPLAN results that they have achieved this year – not only the best in the nation but the best results in our state’s history. That is a huge testament to the effort of Victorian students and the effort of Victorian teachers. Whilst those opposite bicker and whatever they are doing, I for one, and those on this side of the house, applaud our teachers and students today. It is wonderful to have had members of the education union in the Parliament today pressing their case with MPs, and we always welcome that robust and strong feedback.

Indeed we have seen the best NAPLAN results in Victoria’s and in Australia’s history, but that does not mean that we are resting on our laurels; we are continuing to invest in making Victoria the Education State. There are many, many new primary schools opening across the south-east in the next year currently under construction, including Kulap primary school in Clyde, which will open in term 1 next year; Kala primary school in Cranbourne North, also opening in term 1 next year; and Balambalam primary school in Clyde North, which Mr Tarlamis and I are particularly excited about. In Clyde North we will have a new high school as well, Birranga college. It has been wonderful to go onsite and meet with the fantastic new principal Nick Hamer-Smith and talk to him about what the vision for this new school is going to be.

We had another new high school open in Clyde North just this year, Wulerrp Secondary College, and I mentioned in a members statement this morning the wonderful opportunity to visit Hillcrest Christian College just the other week. From that college, and thanks to some of the roadworks in the area, you can actually see their enormous gym and shed with a big sign on it saying ‘Wulerrp Secondary College’. On that point as well, it is wonderful to see good independent schools like Hillcrest, Rivercrest Christian College and indeed Clyde Grammar school, which is also in the same area, continue to thrive and continue to expand with significant investment from this government, because this government believes whichever path you choose, you should have the opportunity for a full and good education. Of course that starts at the early stages too. I know Minister Stitt is very passionate about Best Start, Best Life, and that is a significant thing, with free three- and four-year-old kinder providing that opportunity to all Victorians.

Bev McArthur interjected.

Michael GALEA: I did, Mrs McArthur. I did say ‘free’. Your grandkids can certainly take advantage of it, just as every Victorian can. I hate to have to explain again the simple concept of how government works to you, Mrs McArthur, but governments on this side of the chamber at least, when we are in government, actually try and do things that benefit Victorians. It is not all just about benefiting your own Liberal mates. But when you are on this side of the house and you have a government that is interested in benefiting all Victorians, that is how you have things like providing free three- and four-year-old kinder to all Victorian families, which is a huge cost-of-living pressure relief as well. We heard Mr Davis going absolutely on and on and on about cost of living this morning. Again, free three-year-old kinder – that is a saving of over $2000 a year per child. That is huge. That is a really significant investment, and south-east families certainly value it, even if members opposite do not, because once again we see them attacking free three- and four-year-old kinder. What would we see from an alternate Battin Liberal government? Not only would we have that prize goof Mr Davis running things in the upper house, we might also have the abolition of free three- and four-year-old kinder, and what a disgrace that would be.

If we can look at the other end of the spectrum as well, we have free TAFE – Mrs McArthur, you might be interested in that too – providing valuable skills and providing a valuable workforce that our state desperately needs as we continue to grow and as our economic growth continues to outstrip that of the rest of the nation. As we do so, we have got investments in medicinal research and medical research and various other things. I do not have time to go through all of the amazing things that are happening, Mrs McArthur, but you should get on board.