Tuesday, 10 September 2019

 Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (17:50): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education in the other place. During the 2017–18 summer Victoria reported the highest number of deaths due to drowning in 20 years. What are the government’s plans to address and reduce the incidence across the whole community? I cite a report from Life Saving Victoria from the 2017–18 financial year: 107 drowning-related incidents were reported across Victoria, 40 resulting in death. Over half of the deaths occurred just during the summer months. A key fatal drowning statistic is that 35 per cent of the total recorded deaths in Victoria were of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This is double the number who died after drinking alcohol and swimming or who were not wearing life jackets. There was a significant increase in deaths of people aged between 45 and 64 and also in coastal waterways. I also cannot ignore the 83 per cent increase in fatal drownings of people in swimming pools or paddling pools. What shocked me was that half of these deaths were in public pools. On top of this, for people in western Melbourne compared to other areas in the state there is a 97 per cent increase in the likelihood of one or more drowning deaths in a year.

Whilst the recent increase in resources for primary school swimming education is welcome, it does not address the needs of the whole community, leaving them vulnerable. The government cites water safety as a priority for all ages and genders and cultures. I see little evidence of this occurring. The Play It Safe by the Water program focuses on English-speaking young children with IT access. The costs to enter pools for a regular swim or for a private swimming program are unaffordable for many in my region. I am sad to say I have witnessed a child’s death by drowning and the utter devastation for that family. It is an event that will never leave me. Now with the 2019 summer upon us, my concern for my community is heightened. I call on the government to take urgent action on this.