Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, Mr Deputy Speaker. I apologise. I said, 'through you,' when I made those remarks. My apologies—through you. But if those members opposite want to speak—through you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I won't hold up the Notice Paperthey can get up and speak. They can enter the debate. In fact, I will yield my last couple of minutes, for any member to speak in this debate and defend their record.

I didn't think so! That says it all. When it comes to university funding, when it comes to funding our schools and our non-government sector, when it comes to funding our TAFE and apprenticeships, the government is silent, just like in this debate today. They aren't here turning up to do what they're supposed to do—to represent and support the students that have come here to witness the debate. They aren't doing their job, in my opinion.

We need a government that is going to be focusing on the future of our nation, with a plan to deal with proper economic growth, a plan to deal with properly investing in our education system, but, most importantly, a plan to ensure that education opportunities are there for every single Australian child entering into school this year or finishing school this year. The options simply aren't there, because this government is not taking enough action when it comes to properly funding our schools and investing in the future of our kids, but, more importantly, delivering the infrastructure that we need so that Australia and our economy can grow.

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