Wednesday, 5 March 2025

Ministers statements: schools

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:39): We are planning and building new schools in growing suburbs for growing families right across our state. At the 2018 election we promised to build 100 new schools across our state; they promised to build four new schools – 100 versus four. We are on track to open up 100 new schools by the time of the next election. Nineteen will open next year, and that is some 90,000 additional places for school students right across our state – or an AFL Grand Final. Fifty per cent of schools built across Australia are built right here under our Labor government because this is what Labor governments do and what Liberal governments undo. When it comes to education we will always invest. I opened just a few weeks ago three schools in Clyde North, in the Leader of the Opposition’s electorate – and I can tell you they were not promised by the Liberal Party in 2018 or 2022 – because under Labor, no matter your postcode, no matter your bank balance, no matter the colour of your skin, we will always invest in young people and always invest in education.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is required to be factual. I think it does depend on the postcode, because there are many Liberal electorates that you do not invest in.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Ben CARROLL: In Melbourne’s western suburbs – and I welcome the new member for Werribee ‍– a whopping 34 brand new schools will be opened by our Labor government by the end of next year. I was with the member for Melton opening up and doing the sod turning for Cobblebank just on Monday, because we are getting on with it right across our state. In the northern suburbs, member for Greenvale and member for Kalkallo, we are opening schools every single month. Member for Laverton and member for Tarneit, we are getting on and building new schools wherever there is a growing suburb, because we know that 21 new schools in the City of Wyndham, investing in Melbourne’s western suburbs – (Time expired)