VACSWIM

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing regarding the VACSWIM program.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Last week in this place during question time, as part of an answer regarding public pool access, the minister spoke about the safety of the ocean during this algal bloom, in fact as she has today, as well as noting that the VACSWIM program had begun, I think on that actual day. It is a great tradition, with dozens of summer casual employees at over 120 locations, including 46 beaches from Beachport to Point Sinclair, teaching and encouraging children from the ages of three to 15 to be confident and safe in the water, something that I think enjoys the support of all members of this place.

Specifically, during the answer we sought clarification in a supplementary question when the Hon. Heidi Girolamo asked, 'Is the minister confirming that all of the beach locations are going ahead?' It wasn't quite clear in the minister's response. She did confirm that the program started that day, but not that all sites were going ahead as planned. My question to the minister today is to try to firm that detail up:

1. Can the minister confirm that to the best of her knowledge the VACSWIM program will go ahead at all 46 coastal locations as planned this season and that they already have commenced and are underway, given that the program has already started?

2. If the minister cannot confirm that, will she provide more details of those particular sites which haven't yet begun or which may be expecting delay due to the algal bloom or any other reason?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for his question and appreciate it being raised. I think, from the forum that you joined, again—I appreciate you coming along—it was really clear in that room that there is a real commitment, particularly from Surf Life Saving, to highlighting what they do best, and that is to identify safe places to use and enjoy our beach and also continue VACSWIM.

As was also highlighted in that particular forum, our beaches are very variable. There are days when VACSWIM might be cancelled because there is a thunderstorm, or there might be concerns about lots of stingers in the water on that particular day. Our beach already has a lot of variables and for many, many decades our surf lifesavers have provided a safe space for children to learn to swim. Surf Life Saving runs the VACSWIM program. We have seen over decades the respect that they have, and we know that they don't just do it at the beaches; they do it in all waterways, including pools and inland water as well.

What I took away from that forum is that they will continue to run their Surf Life Saving VACSWIM program. They will do it where it is safe to do so and, as they said in that forum, if they feel on the day that they need to move down the beach slightly to do that, that is what they will consider, or maybe they will do what they do on those days when there are lots of stingers in the water and have more of a training session on the beach that day. They are already used to being flexible and agile in how they provide their incredible knowledge and learning through VACSWIM, and my understanding is that's where they are at this very point in time in supporting the VACSWIM program.