Geoff Lyons (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak to the motion on the importance of Surf Life Saving Australia. For more than 100 years, Australians and tourists have been drawn to Australia's beaches. With an estimated 100 million beach visitations each year, safety on the beach is vital. As I have stated before, surf lifesaving is an active part of Australia's local communities. Our movement prides itself in offering mateship, education and experience. In doing so, it is giving back to the community. I am proud to be a member of both the Bridport and Launceston Surf Life Saving clubs in Tasmania. I have had a long association with the movement.

Surf Life Saving Australia have played a valuable role in reducing the number of deaths in our coastal waters. They have provided a safe and educational environment for all ages to enjoy on Australia's popular coastline. Their work is to be commended. Unfortunately there are still some tragedies in our waters. Surf Life Saving Australia released its 2011National Coastal Safety Report last week. Among the key findings of the report was that there were 61 coastal drowning deaths last year. However, this is below the seven-average of 89. Fifty-two, or 85 per cent, were males; 14, or 23 per cent, were aged between 20 and 29 years, the most common age group; 21, or 34 per cent, were of foreign ethnicity of which five percent were international visitors. Over 40 per cent occurred during summer which is why I want to highlight this topic now as we are coming into the warmer months.

Nineteen, or 31 per cent, were attributed to swimming or wading; 17, or 28 per cent, were attributed to boating; and six, or 10 per cent, were attributed to rock fishing. Out of all our coastal drownings, 12, or 20 per cent, were attributed to rip currents. Education is important in avoiding these tragic drownings. Forty-eight per cent of drownings occurred at the beach and 22 of the victims lived less than 10 kilometres from their drowning location. Thirty-one drownings occurred less than five kilometres from a lifesaving service. Peter George, the Chief Operating Officer, noted that there was a downward trend in coastal drowning deaths over the past seven years. We need to be out there educating communities about how to be safe in the water. Peter George also highlighted that men continued to be overrepresented in the coastal drowning data and that this is down to a mixture of bravado and an inflated sense of ability. We are still seeing too many young men's lives cut short. We should be educating our communities about the importance of water safety.

I was pleased to host the second meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving Australia last Wednesday. We had great attendance by members, senators and their staff. The SLSA President, Graham Ford, Chief Operating Officer, Peter George AM and CEO Brett Williamson OAM presented certificates to members and talked about the national coastal safety policy. In October this year at parliament house, Surf Life Saving Australia will be releasing a report on the economic contributions of surf lifesaving in Australia. The Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving are encouraged to attend that preview. Something that you can talk about to those in your electorates who have iPhones or iPads is a free application provided by Surf Life Saving Australia called Beachsafe. Beachsafe displays beach safety information for visitors to Australian beaches and provides the day's beach information such as real-time hazards and beach status information when lifesavers are present.

Community education plays a vital role in SLSA's aquatic safety. SLSA provides a number of courses to help people understand the surf, along with community courses in first aid and resuscitation. The important message is that the only way to swim safely at a beach is between the flags. We also recommend that people swim with a mate and to refrain from swimming at night and also if they have consumed alcohol.

Surf lifesaving is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia, and I would encourage people to join and support the important work of surf lifesaving. With summer fast approaching and the patrol season commencing, people who want to learn the skills of surf lifesaving can contact their local club. With the skills I have learnt in surf lifesaving, I have carried out seven resuscitations, and one of my daughters, Michelle, has successfully resuscitated two people. You can help save the life of someone close to you one day. I encourage people to stay safe at the beach and to donate and to participate in surf lifesaving. Every Australian should be a swimmer and every swimmer should be a lifesaver. Every Australian can help save a life.

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