Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Ministers statements: education

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:05): The Allan Labor government understands that families are struggling with the cost of living. There has been no interest rate rise relief recently. That is why we are delivering help where it is needed right across our state, in our regions, in our suburbs and right across, supporting our Victorian communities. We know you cannot concentrate on an empty stomach. That is why we have delivered 40 million school breakfasts to date –

John Pesutto interjected.

Ben CARROLL: Happy little Vegemite over here, just calm down. I am talking about school breakfasts.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Education, through the Chair. Member for Brighton, you are warned. The Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Nationals and the member for Caulfield will come to order and allow the minister to make his statement without interjections.

Ben CARROLL: We understand the most fundamental building block to success is education. It is what gets us up and drives –

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: Have you finished? Do you do this in the courtroom? We know education is a fundamental building block to success. That is why, with the member for Narre Warren North and the member for Cranbourne, just last week we were out there talking about the Allan Labor government’s school saving bonus – $400 going to school uniforms and textbooks where we know it makes a real difference. With the member for Williamstown we have tripled the funding for the school glasses program. They cut Free Fruit Friday; we are doing 50 million breakfasts by the end of this year. They cut the education maintenance allowance; we are putting more investment in our schools – 2200 ‍upgrades as I speak, right across this state. They cut Reading Recovery; we are doing world’s best practice in reading and literacy right across our state. With the hardworking member for Yan Yean, we are seeing what is going on at Wandong Primary School, where we are delivering world-class best practice in the classroom, because under the Allan Labor government, no child and no school community will be left behind.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Narre Warren North is warned.