Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:48): I rise to update the house on how the Carroll Labor government is helping kindergartens across Victoria to become more inclusive, accessible and welcoming for every child. I recently visited Attwood Childcare Centre and Kindergarten with the member for Greenvale, Iwan Walters, in the other place to announce that 89 kinders will share in more than $4.5 million through our Building Blocks inclusion grants. It was great to meet with Leanne, Sharon and the whole of the team who have created a wonderful space where children can really connect with the nature around them. I had the opportunity to tour the centre’s outdoor area and see some of the beautiful features. They have compost and veggie patches, innovative water pumps and a beautiful, accessible wooden fort. There were even some chickens and, unlike those opposite, they were not trying to peck away at free kinder. Through a $171,000 grant the team will have the opportunity to further improve the space by building new, accessible pathways and purchasing musical equipment and play features.

Our Labor government has delivered more than $27 million in Building Blocks inclusion grants, supporting more than 200 projects. On this side of the house we believe that every child deserves the chance to learn, play and grow in a great local kinder where they have every opportunity to thrive. It is why we are building hundreds of new kindergartens and why we are expanding and upgrading hundreds more. It is why we are delivering additional hours of free four-year-old kinder, giving children more time to learn through play and build their confidence. It is why we are delivering free kinder for children right across the state. Through our Best Start, Best Life reforms we are expanding access to kindergarten by removing barriers to participation, whether they be financial, geographical or otherwise. Contrast that with those opposite, who as I said earlier in response to Ms Tyrrell’s important question, want to cut free kinder and want to rip that support away from families – more than $5000 on kinder journeys. Those opposite want to strip it away from them.

Bev McArthur: On a point of order, President, we have been continually suggesting that members opposite should not point. The minister just pointed – with a pen, no less. Can you please call them to account? Ms Terpstra is continually doing it.

Sonja Terpstra: Further to the point of order, President, the members opposite who have been here long enough should know the standing orders, and the standing orders talk about aggressively pointing. There is a difference between using hand gestures and aggressively pointing, which Mr Davis does day in, day out.

David Davis: No matter how much pointing is done, it will not fix the potholes.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, you might be finding where Mr Galea is having his lunch. Mrs McArthur, I am not going to set a precedent for the next President that someone cannot hold a pen and move their hand, but I will uphold that there should not be pointing.