I was pleased to speak in Parliament this Wednesday, the 29th of October, commending the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill to the Legislative Assembly.
It was also a joy to take the opportunity in my opening to thank educators, students and parents alike for their resilience throughout 2020.
While the Bill makes minor technical adjustments to the 2006 legislation, the changes bear a broader legacy in supporting the Assessment Authority as it continues the most essential services to Victoria’s senior secondary schools.
Essentially, the Bill seeks to amend the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETRA) to clarify the employment powers of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The Bill does this by making technical amendments arising from changes to the Children’s Services Act 1996 regarding early childhood teacher staffing requirements in children’s services.
The proposed changes deliver on our commitment as a Government, to ensure that bodies such as the VCAA are properly resourced and staffed, enabled to maximise delivery for secondary students at such a crucial time in their schooling.
The amendments provided for in the Bill, further enhance – even if technically – Victoria’s reputation as the Education State.
Watch my full speech here.
May 16, 2022 - Parliament
I discussed my concerns about some of the grubby politics that our local Liberal Parliamentarians have engaged in over the course of the Federal Campaign in this weeks Members Statement.
April 14, 2022 - Parliament
I was going to begin with a text for today, but I really cannot let the member for Gembrook get too far away there. I just want to talk about elephants briefly—it is the concept of the elephant in the room. When I hear this...
April 4, 2022 - Parliament
Watch my speech on the Gambling and Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill below.
March 18, 2022 - Parliament
As a former officer in the RAAF, I was especially delighted to be given the honour of representing the government at the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin. It was a timely reminder that many Australians have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our...
March 7, 2022 - Parliament
November 29, 2021 - Parliament
Adapted from John Kennedy’s Speech to the Legislative Assembly on 17 November 2021 The Attorney-General’s question and answer document states: ‘We will better balance the right to equality with the right to religious freedom, ensuring protection and promotion of both rights.’ There are colleagues better...
November 1, 2021 - Parliament
Last week, the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 passed in the Assembly after being the source of both public and parliamentary debate. Personally, I think you would be hard pressed to find a better contribution about both the bill and the nature...
October 18, 2021 - Parliament
Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (13:39): During 2019—near the end of 2019—the Minister for Education invited me to a busman’s holiday, and basically the busman’s holiday was to chair the reference group in respect of the review into vocational and applied learning pathways in senior secondary schooling....
August 6, 2021 - News, Parliament
Member’s Statement, given on the 5th of July, 2021. This week is Homelessness Week. I find it astonishing that in an affluent country such as ours over 116 000 people experience homelessness on any given night. Research has shown that secure and affordable housing is...
August 3, 2021 - Parliament
My question is for the Minister for Education and is regarding the proposed VCAL reforms. The integration of VCAL into the VCE follows a review by former Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority CEO John Firth. I was pleased to chair the expert reference group for...