Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

In the 2014-15 budget, the Australian government committed $15 million over five years for the water safety reduce drownings program. This program provides $8 million for surf-lifesaving clubs to purchase water safety equipment, $2 million for Surf Life Saving Australia to address beach drowning black spots, and $1 million for AUSTSWIM for the promotion of access to quality and accredited swimming and water safety. This is on top of the $8½ million a year already invested by the Commonwealth government to support water safety in Australia. This funding is used to support the ongoing operations of Surf Life Saving Australia, the RLSSA and AUSTSWIM as well as supporting Laurie Lawrence Swimming Enterprises to develop, promote and distribute water safety materials that aim to reduce the incidence of accidental drowning deaths of children under five.