The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has criticised Education Minister Ben Carroll over the Allan Labor Government’s handling of public school infrastructure after he repeatedly dodged basic questions about the condition of Victoria’s public schools during the Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) 2026/27 Budget Hearings. Ms Benham questioned the Minister and senior officials…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has told Parliament the Allan Labor Government’s Education and Training Reform Amendment (Free TAFE Guarantee) Bill 2026 is a missed opportunity to strengthen Victoria’s vocational education and training sector. Speaking in Parliament on the bill, Ms Benham said while the Victorian Liberals and Nationals support strong vocational education,…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for claiming “nation-leading” investment in education while regional schools continue to fall behind. Speaking in Parliament, Ms Benham said the government’s self-congratulation bears little resemblance to the reality facing students and families in Mildura and across North-West Victoria. “If this government wants…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, is calling on regional families, teachers, and community members to join the “Country Kids Count Too” pledge, advocating for investment in country schools and ensuring that students in regional Victoria are not left behind. “Too often, the priorities of the city-focused Labor Government leave country students struggling in…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has called on the Minister for Education to reinstate the P–12 Complexity Allowance, warning that recent changes will deprive the Mildura electorate’s P–12 colleges of vital learning support and opportunities. The P–12 complexity allowance, part of the Student Resource Package (SRP), provides additional funding to schools that combine…
Dear Editor, As their schooling journey draws to a close, I would like to extend my best wishes to Year 12 students across the region who will finish their studies or sit their final exams over the coming weeks. You are to be commended for your hard work and commitment to your studies. You should…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for wasting taxpayer money on short-term fixes at Mildura West Primary School (MWPS) instead of delivering long-overdue new classrooms. Ms Benham said the Government announced that $637,433.39 would be provided to MWPS through its 2025–26 Planned Maintenance Funding program. “That’s over half…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has placed education firmly on the agenda following two weeks of visits with local education providers. Ms Benham said the opportunity to speak directly with those delivering education, from early years through to tertiary and vocational training, provided valuable insight into the strengths and challenges facing the sector…
The Nationals Member for Mildura Jade Benham, joined with sponsors Mildura RSL Sub-Branch, Mildura Gateway Tavern, Sunraysia Petroleum and other local supporters to announce Hannah Saunders and Rhiannon Jack as the recipients of the 2025 Farnsworth Lochhead Lowe Scholarship. Auspiced by the Mildura RSL Sub-Branch, the Farnsworth Lochhead Lowe Scholarship is named in honour of…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham has expressed her frustration at the at the Minister for Education’s continued lack of commitment to funding shade structures at Koorlong Primary School. Ms Benham asked Minister for Education, Deputy Premier, Ben Carroll when the government would likely fund shade structures over the school’s basketball court. The Minister…