Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Nepean electorate

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (14:50): (508) My question is to the Minister for Environment and Minister for Outdoor Recreation. Recently there has been a spate of drownings not just across the Mornington Peninsula but right across Victoria – more than 22 since December and 14 in January alone. A large amount of those have happened on the Mornington Peninsula. We have got more than 190 ‍kilometres of coastline when you think about Port Phillip and Western Port. I have had the opportunity to meet with local law enforcement. I had the local police in my office the other day. I have met with the Peninsula Surfriders Club, who regularly down at Gunnamatta ocean beach are pulling people from the water – people that are lucky enough to have surfers there to pull them out so they do not just become another number on that tally. We need to do something about these drownings. It needs to be approached in a bipartisan way. My question is: will the minister join me in meeting with local stakeholders to develop and implement real solutions for the tragic drownings that are occurring right across the state, including on the Mornington Peninsula?