Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Ministers statements: education funding

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:22): I am delighted to update the house on the record investment in brand new schools happening under the Allan Labor government. Since 2015 we have built 96 schools in Victoria. To give that some context, though, 50 per cent of schools built around Australia have been built right here in Victoria, the Education State, and that is not including the almost 2000 upgrades we have done in addition to those 96 schools. It is also not including the almost $500 million of investment we put into education maintenance every year.

While they have been busy trying to count to 15 this week, we have been opening brand new schools. I have already opened 14 this year, and soon I will get to number 15 before any of those opposite will as well. We think education is beyond being a nice thing to do; we see it as the single most important public investment in our future. We know education changes the dial on disadvantage. We know 92 ‍per cent of disadvantage is in public state schools. That is why we have invested $30.8 billion in education programs since we came to office – $30.8 billion. Let that sink in for a moment. What did they invest when they were last in office? $1.2 billion, not over one year but over four years.

On this side of the chamber, we believe in lifelong education, beginning from birth through the Best Start, Best Life program, right through primary, right through secondary, right through rebuilding TAFE, making sure that every student, every Victorian has a pathway. While they are looking for pathways over the other side, we are making sure we are focused on the real people, school students, making sure they have the best start and the best life in the Education State.