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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-07-03 Daily Xml
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Sports Funding

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister inform the house how the Marshall government is providing funding to local sporting clubs to acquire vital life-saving equipment such as defibrillators?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:24): I thank the member for Newland for his very good question and note his keen interest in that. In fact, he and I have a very close association with a young man who did use those—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: this information is readily available, sir. Indeed, sir—

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. It has been a practice of the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right, be quiet. There are practices around this sort of potential answer. I will be listening carefully, watching what resources are out there and, if there is an issue, I will intervene; if not, the minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I again acknowledge the member for Newland and his interest in this matter and his interest in building South Australia—

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hurtle Vale is warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —which is what we are doing as a government right across the board, investing billions of dollars in infrastructure, of course, which is wonderful to see. Lot Fourteen, again, is another great investment here in South Australia. There is $52 million going into state security and police, and we are very passionate about that, to build the security of our state. We are also investing in sport. We have put $100 million into sport in South Australia—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —since coming into government, and we are very proud of that, too; $100 million is a significant amount. There is $29 million that has gone to sports vouchers. That is a $100 voucher for primary school-aged children who are actually going out and playing sport. We are getting them active, we are getting them out in the community and we are helping their families with the cost of living.

It is a very important initiative, and I know the member for Newland is extremely passionate about that. It is $100. We came into government and that Sports Vouchers program wasn't funded by those on the other side; they did not have a cent committed to it. We have put $29 million into making sure that we are building South Australia and getting our young people active.

When it comes to these defibrillators, this is another great initiative. I know the member for West Torrens is keen on this, but I know for a fact that he doesn't know the name of the young man who actually had his life saved by one of these defibrillators. It actually happened in the electorate of Newland at a Tea Tree Gully Football Club game. They were playing against the Brighton Bombers, which is my football club coincidentally, against my son's team. It is a little bit fortunate that I wasn't there that day and nor was my son.

It was quite a shocking day for all the kids involved. He actually received what is colloquially termed a 'death punch'. It is where, on the exhalation of breath, you are hit right in the sternum at exactly the right time and it makes your heart stop. I am told by the experts—and again, the member for West Torrens may or may not know this fact—that if you had 10 doctors only one could actually make this happen to you. One out of 10 doctors can make it happen, that is how freaky it is.

Young Tyler Bennett was the boy's name. He went down. Thankfully, the trainer from the Brighton football club was on hand. Her name is Helen Wise. The assistant coach from the Tea Tree Gully under-18s, one of their senior players, Alex McKay, was on hand as well, and they started resuscitating this young boy. The real blessing was that the club had a defibrillator. Someone went and got that defibrillator. They worked it on young Tyler and they started his heart. He was in a coma for two days, and he is very lucky to be alive. In fact, it was only a few weeks ago that he celebrated his first birthday. I did make note of that to the member for Newland.

Honourable members: His first birthday?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Yes, think about it for a second. He was dead twice—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and then he came alive again, so he has had his first birthday. They are not listening on that side, but isn't that a great story? Here's a young lad who is 18 years of age and he had his first birthday because he came alive again after the great work of these defibrillators.

What we are saying to sporting clubs out there is that we have the Active Club out there. There is between $3 million and $4 million in this grant program. There are two rounds. We have the second round to go this year. It opens on 7 August. We are asking people to put in an application for one of these defibrillators. You can get a grant of up to $5,000. They cost about $2,500 to $3,000, maybe a bit more if you get the wall mount. They are wonderful for our community and they can be registered with St John's as well. So if someone has an episode, they can actually know and get informed as to the location of one of these defibrillators, and it may well save another life.

Tyler Bennett, the member for West Torrens will be keen to know, is alive again. He had his first birthday the other day since being saved by these wonderful volunteers at the football club. It is a great story. Tyler is living proof that these things work. We implore everyone to apply for them. If you don't get one in this round, please apply again in the next round, because in the last round of Active Club grants no-one actually applied for one, and they are very worthwhile for our communities.

I recommend it to everyone. Again, on behalf of Tyler, I know he is very grateful for the people who looked after him and the fact that the club had a defibrillator that helped save his life.

The SPEAKER: One moment, member for West Torrens. Please stop the clock, Mr Clerk. I respectfully remind members of a practice adopted by former Speaker Atkinson. What has emerged in recent times regarding an answer to questions is for the minister, in providing an answer, to quote extensively from, or refer to information readily available in, public documents. In this instance, the Speaker has invited the minister to continue his or her answer, provided the response can also offer new or further information. I hope that helps members on both sides.

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