Thursday, 5 October 2023

Education policy

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (09:38): Education is not just an important thing to do, it is fundamental to our future. I said in my inaugural speech more than 10 years ago:

Any conversation about opportunity must include education, the most fundamental building block to success.

‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ said Nelson Mandela once upon a time. We know the 21st century will be determined by people skills and minds – the human capital. We know it is a privilege for all of us to represent in this place. I have the great privilege now as the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education to represent my community, where I went to kindergarten, primary school and secondary school and indeed had my first job. Everyone deserves a good-quality education irrespective of their postcode and socio-economic status. I am excited to be getting on with building the Education State in the Labor tradition.

Just on that, just recently, earlier this month, I had the pleasure of being at Essendon Keilor College with David Adamson, the outgoing principal, who has been a great, fantastic principal. We know the role of principal in the 21st century is one of the most significant that can be undertaken by any person in our society, and I want to congratulate David for his lifelong passion for education and reform of the education system in the Niddrie electorate. I was very pleased to announce $2 million for the East Keilor campus along with David, Lisa Nugent and Adam Potter, the campus principals, to get on and build the Education State right here in the Niddrie electorate, and I am looking forward to building the Education State right across the state of Victoria.