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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-02 Daily Xml
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Swimming Pool Safety

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:07): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General please update the house on an important consumer safety initiative to keep South Australians safe leading into summer?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (15:07): I thank the member for King for her question. I'm tempted to talk to you all about the banning of Emodkas today, but I have another important matter to raise and that is the prevention of accidental death in relation to drownings, in particular of our young people.

Every year, at least one child drowns in a portable swimming pool and many other children are hospitalised. Last year, for those who follow this data, 14 people drowned in South Australia and two of them were children. Some of that further information will be drilled down that hasn't been available from the information from the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee report. Many members I'm sure would have read that yesterday.

That most updated data in relation to drownings isn't yet ready because of COVID, but nevertheless the weather is warning up and families may consider buying an inflatable pool for Christmas, so I want to take the opportunity to remind members and obviously assist in advising their constituency that these blow-up pools of course can be just as dangerous as above-ground pools. It takes only 20 seconds in three centimetres of water for a child to drown.

Obviously, we want to ensure families are completely educated, so Consumer and Business Services have teamed up with Royal Life Saving to run a Don't Duck Out, Make it SAFE campaign. SAFE stands for Supervise, Act, Fence and Empty. Obviously, storage and things of that nature need follow-through with that. Never leave an empty pool where it can refill with rain or with a sprinkler operating. The campaign kicked off today and will continue throughout the summer.

As part of this campaign, CBS will be promoting this message through social media networks, emails and writing to stakeholders, inviting them to share the campaign message. Any pool or spa in South Australia with a depth of 30 centimetres (about a foot in old language) or more must be fenced. I think it is really important to advise the constituencies.

I know that members in their Christmas message to constituents often assist in getting out road safety messages, but child safety around portable swimming pools is just as important, and I would encourage members to take this up. We want them to reach out to their local council to see what the requirements are otherwise for fencing around the pool. Of course, the last thing you need over Christmas is a fine for not properly fencing the pool area.

It is essential that parents, grandparents and carers keep watch at all times over children who are near water. Obviously, we strive to keep our children safe and strong. I would urge members again to encourage their constituents never to leave older children in charge of younger children around pools. It is far too much responsibility for them and they simply don't always have the training or knowledge to understand the signs in relation to a drowning.

I take this opportunity to have this important reminder placed here today for leaders in the community to spread this message: don't duck out of your responsibilities, make it SAFE.

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