Wednesday, 12 August 2026

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:00): (1405) My question today is to the new Premier. Over the weekend it was reported that you have agreed to finally fulfil the state’s obligations to fund Victoria’s public schools to the Gonski minimum standard. It has been a long time coming, with our schools currently the lowest funded in the country. But, Premier, talk is cheap. Schools are in desperate need of this funding. When will the dollars actually flow and when will the schools see this money?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:00): I thank Mr Puglielli for his question, and the Premier will be delighted to respond. Obviously education is a key priority of the Premier – a passion after being the education minister for some time. When it comes to education, we have demonstrated we are the Education State in relation to NAPLAN results and investment in education, particularly in relation to funding and support for schools for infrastructure. There is no state other than Victoria that has invested anywhere near as much as we have in the infrastructure for our public schools, as well as upgrading or remodelling every special school in the state.

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: In relation to the overall budget for education, it is significant, it is something that we are proud of, but there is always more work to do. As you have indicated, Mr Puglielli – as opposed to the opposition, who are interjecting – your interest in the Premier’s discussions and the education minister’s discussions with the federal government in relation to the Gonski negotiations will be best placed if I pass that question on to them to respond to you.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:02): Thank you, Minister, for passing that on and for those remarks, but like I said, talk is cheap. These schools desperately want to see this funding. This announcement of public school funding has been part of the advocacy of the Australian Education Union while they negotiate a new deal for improved wages and working conditions for teachers and school staff. Premier, will you ensure that this school funding announcement will not come at the expense of meeting the demands being bargained for by teachers and school staff?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:02): Mr Puglielli, there is currently an offer with the AEU and I believe the opinion of members is being sought as we speak. It is an offer of more than $5 billion for teachers, support staff and those that work in the public education system. I will not comment on where that is headed – it is in the hands of the members at this point in time – but what it will deliver is the highest paid teachers, educators and support staff in the country, and it has responded to a number of the concerns that the union has raised in relation to workload, meetings et cetera. If you would like to see more of the offer, I am sure you can obtain that detail from the AEU. It is a separate matter to the fair funding agreement that the Premier and the education minister will be negotiating with the federal government.