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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-13 Daily Xml
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WATER SAFETY

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:58): Will the Minister For Emergency Services inform the house of any new initiatives in relation to water safety?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:58): I take pleasure today in informing the house of the release of the State Water Safety Plan 2008-10. South Australia experienced 14 drowning deaths in 2007-08, which is one down on the five-year average of 15. The state has a proud history of water safety initiatives, and it is important that we continue to support and encourage water safety in our community.

The water safety plan provides a framework for achieving a coordinated approach to water safety amongst organisations and to minimise the risk of water-related injuries and drowning deaths through ongoing education programs and safety and preventative initiatives. The Water Safety Coordinating Committee was established in 2006 to guide this state's response to water safety and to encourage communication across the emergency services and recreation and sport sectors.

I would like to thank all members of the Water Safety Coordinating Committee and those individuals and organisations that have contributed to the plan. They include: the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, SA Branch; the Boating Industry Association of SA; Surf Life Saving South Australia; KidSafe SA; Swimming SA; the Aquatics Recreation Institute; the SA Farmers Federation; and the Local Government Association. I can also inform the house that SAFECOM will now chair the committee, with the Office for Recreation and Sport providing support. This will ensure further coordination between the emergency services and recreation and sporting sectors.

Despite the many gains in water safety education and recognition over the years, recent trends justify an ongoing commitment by the government to water safety. New arrivals moving to the state with limited water experience, a trend of more people moving from the country to the seaside, more water bodies in urban environments, and increased participation in aquatic activities have all increased water related risks.

The water safety plan recognises the importance of education in relation to water safety. That is why I am pleased to announce that over $180,000 of funding will be available for organisations to focus on water safety programs. The government will continue to work with our community organisations by building on and promoting the many excellent programs and services that they provide and encourage the development of new initiatives and programs where needed.

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