Thursday, 30 July 2026

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (09:59): This week the Labor government installed their second unelected Premier in Victoria in one term. I congratulate Mr Carroll. I point out that he has been a key decision-maker in every single one of this government’s bad decisions since Jacinta Allan became the Premier until he rolled her just the other day – every single one of them.

I also point out that in my very first speech in this place after I was elected in November 2022 I called on the government to implement the science of learning and a phonics-based approach in schools because of the failing literacy of kids in the state of Victoria. I was really delighted when Mr Carroll took on the role of education minister and said that he would do just that. He saw the need, he saw it needed to be addressed and he saw how it needed to be addressed. What was so upsetting, though, was even though he had the best of intentions, he did not have the ability to stand up to the unions and see the change through. I think this is extremely concerning, because he has come out and he is saying all these things that he is going to change. I hope that he is not, like he has been in the past, just all words and not able to deliver.

I will also point out that during the COVID lockdowns in 2020 he was the Minister for Corrections that oversaw over 97,000 days taken off prison sentences. This has been damaging to victims, and he needs to change it.