Adjournment Debate – Kismet Park Primary School

J. BULL (Sunbury) — The matter I raise is for the Minister for Education. The action I seek is for the minister to commit much-needed funding for Kismet Park Primary School. Better schools, stronger schools, safer schools, schools that we are proud of and schools that, most importantly, allow students to be the best they can be — that is the education state. Education is the enabler of opportunity, and I doubt many members would be in this house if not for their education.

The 2015–16 budget invested almost $4 billion in Victoria’s education and skills system, representing the single biggest boost to education funding in Victoria’s history. This included over $730 million to build new schools, upgrade existing schools and buy land to meet future demand. It also included $180 million for programs that will help families cover the extra costs of education, like camps, excursions and uniforms, as we have heard today.

In Sunbury $3 million was allocated for a new science wing at Sunbury College — and I know the member for Ringwood will be very pleased about that; $2 million of additional equity funding for schools was allocated in the Sunbury electorate to make sure that every student has the best chance to succeed; and $1.1 million went into local schools throughout Sunbury to ensure that each student can thrive in a safe, modern and comfortable learning environment.

Tonight I ask for funding for Kismet Park Primary school, following on from a meeting I had with principal Glenn McConnell. Glenn expressed serious concern about the condition of the school. On a tour of the school we looked at a number of school buildings that are certainly in great need of repair, and in this meeting and follow-up meetings there were certainly a number of issues highlighted that I believe need to be addressed. It is clear that this great school could benefit significantly from increased funding. It is a terrific school but obviously through additional funding could be made even better. I ask the minister, once again, to commit to much-needed funding for Kismet Park Primary School in future funding considerations.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER — Order! Before calling on the honourable member for South Barwon, I inform the honourable member for Sunbury that one of the first schools I visited as a member of Parliament was Kismet Park Primary School, before it was actually opened.