Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

Mr GREGG (Deakin) (17:57): I rise to speak on a subject very close to my heart—education—and how this budget continues the Albanese Labor government's significant investment in our education system. Education changes lives. It's one of the most significant determinants of social and economic mobility.

I experienced this as a student, and I'm proud to have played my— An honourable member interjecting— Mr GREGG: That's right—and as a teacher. In my first contribution to this parliament as the member for Deakin, I spoke about how education builds confidence, capacity and opportunities. I saw that when I taught at Sale College, where the member for Gippsland attended as a student, as did the member for Leichhardt.

That's a little bit before my time! But I was proudly part of a great school in regional Victoria, and that school is now so very well represented here in Canberra. But when I think back to my time at that school I can picture the kinds of kids that would benefit from the additional investments being made by this government.

Everyone deserves access to a world-class education, whether you're in Sale, Ringwood, regional Australia or metropolitan Melbourne. I also said in my first speech that I'm proud to be part of a government that has put every Australian public school on a path to full and fair funding. That pride has only grown as I've had the opportunity to visit more schools throughout my own electorate of Deakin.

Seeing teachers go that extra mile for their students is such a joy, and they deserve the respect and resources to do their job well. That's why the Albanese government is building a better and fairer education system, from early childhood right through to university and TAFE. When Labor came to government no public school outside the ACT was fully funded.

When we don't fully fund public schools, we are leaving students behind. If they're getting the education they need, it's because our amazing teachers are going above and beyond and often putting their own money into student resources. Bear in mind that we've got teachers having to teach a cohort of students in which the range of capabilities often spans multiple years of educational development.

That's why our Better and Fairer Schools Agreement is so important. This agreement will increase the Commonwealth's contribution to the schooling resource standard, to put every public school on the path to full funding. This is the biggest new investment in public schools by an Australian government ever—a $16.5 billion investment in our students and teachers, an investment for the next generation.

This funding isn't just a blank cheque with hopes and dreams or a 'magic happens' sticker. It is tied to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, including those small group tutoring sessions, year 1 phonics, early-years numeracy assessments and checks, more individualised support, mental health support and more support to attract and retain teachers.

This is big-picture investment in reform of the public education system that only a Labor government would deliver. We're also delivering targeted upgrades to schools. Just one example is Croydon Primary School, which the Minister for Education came to visit.

A $6.8 million facility will provide a fantastic new space for not only students at that school but the whole community to play sport and connect. This is generational reform, and I'm so proud to be part of a government that is investing in the future of our young Australians. Proposed expenditure agreed to.