Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It has been a horror summer for drowning. Twenty people have drowned in Victoria alone since 1 December, and, with more warm weather predicted, the risk increases. Surf lifesavers do an amazing job, but they cannot be everywhere, and not everyone swims between the flags. In my electorate of Corangamite, locals dread hearing news of swimming fatalities, which often involve visitors on remote beaches. They understand that with awesome surf come strong rip currents and dangerous undertow at places like Bells Beach and Thirteenth Beach and along the Great Ocean Road.

While surfers are often viewed as thrillseekers, there is so much more to the story. Local surfers have saved at least four lives in my region this summer, and those are just the rescues we've heard about. Their intimate knowledge of the ocean makes surfers invaluable in the water, rescuing people in distress when lifeguards are absent. Surfers epitomise the selfless spirit of community. Demonstrating that heroes can emerge from unexpected places, they're unsung heroes and deserve better recognition for the awesome work they do in keeping Australians safe. Surfers often walk away from a rescue without anyone even knowing their names, so today I thank them. When it comes to ocean safety on unpatrolled beaches, surfers are our frontline defenders. My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones this summer.

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