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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [12.26 p.m.]: Today I speak about the sad fact that drownings on New South Wales beaches are on the rise. We have all despaired at the stories this summer of families who have lost a loved one in the ocean, and my heart goes out to all those families who have had to suffer such terrible grief. I pay tribute to the many surf clubs in my electorate that work tirelessly to keep people safe in the surf. Indeed, across New South Wales surf clubs protected more than seven million beachgoers last season. They perform a critical community service and we thank them wholeheartedly. However, lifesavers cannot always be around.
Every Australian, young and old, should have fundamental service safety skills and today I make a plea to government to do something about this. Drowning prevention programs relevant to the school syllabus do exist but funds are not being provided in a coordinated way across the State to deliver them. Recently I met with Craig Riddington, affectionately known as Riddo, former Iron Man champion and Manly resident, who is now an instructor and educator at his company Surf Educate Australia, which operates from Manly Surf Club. Surf Educate Australia delivers surf education programs to schools across the eastern seaboard, teaching hands-on practical skills at the beach. Children are taught how to identify a rip, how to get out of a rip and essential tips to prevent drowning—fundamental information that would be helped in saving the many lives lost this year.
Craig is passionate about reducing deaths in the ocean and knows that more can be done. Recently schools along the North Coast have had to pull out of surf safety programs because of a lack of funds. The comparison is stark between New South Wales and Queensland, where all surf safety providers—Surf Lifesaving Queensland, council and private providers—have shown that a combined effort can prevent people from drowning. Last year Queensland had seven coastal drowning deaths, a decrease on the previous year, whereas New South Wales had 46 coastal drowning deaths, an increase of 13 on the previous year. This area is well beyond politics but it shows that something needs to be done in this State to stop what are preventable deaths.
Funds to teach kids to serve safety skills must be found. It is a priority for all children in New South Wales whether they live near a beach or merely visit on holidays. At some stage children in the State of New South Wales will come into contact with the ocean. Every single child should receive a surf education school lesson to teach them what to do if they get into trouble in the surf. It is basic knowledge. Kate and Peter Adkins of Castle Hill shared their gratitude for surf education after their daughter Holly applied the skills she had learned from a course. They wrote:
Last week my 11 year-old daughter nearly drowned in a rip whilst on holiday on the North Coast of NSW, however she managed to survive after applying the basic skills and knowledge from your school programs. We wish to thank you very, very much for the life of our daughter, Holly.
A small amount of expenditure now will undoubtedly prevent deaths in the future. Craig Riddington's program is an example. I call on the Government to develop a coordinated approach between the private sector and surf life saving and to develop a model, as has been done in Queensland, where everyone works together to educate every child in the State. I do not think that is too much to ask.
Craig Riddington and other surf lifesavers are working on a project known as Beach to Bush to deliver surf safety to children from rural areas. A number of clubs on the northern beaches take part in the program. Craig and the other surf lifesavers are working on a pilot program this year in term two, with no assistance from the Government. That sort of program up and down the coast should be supported. We need to get surf skills into our schools for the benefit of every kid in the State.
I acknowledge Craig Riddington's efforts in working to create a peak body for surf educators. I am hopeful that the New South Wales Government recognises the value of these programs and gives them the attention they need to succeed. Unless we do it in a coordinated way, just as they have done in Queensland, we will not be in a position to do anything about the rising drowning toll.
I will share with the House the story of a young man whose life was saved at Manly Beach last year. Twenty-three-year-old Lukas from Poland recently wrote to Manly club member Gary Auer, who was first on the scene:
Today is one year from the time you saved my life. I cannot express in words my gratitude. I have not written because it was really hard for me to survive I hope that one day we can meet again. My entire family greets you warmly.
This is a man who obviously benefited from the efforts of one of the many surf lifesavers across the State. I pay tribute to the surf club members throughout the State. I sincerely urge the Government to support surf safety programs and to develop a coordinated approach between the private sector, councils and surf life saving to ensure that every kid in this State is educated on surf skills.
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