No time to cut drowning response, says Riordan MP
There's certainly plenty of information about Hooded Plovers nesting. IT’S A very sensitive subject down in Bass Coast after local first responders attended what seemed like drowning after drowning on local beaches last summer. The lowlight of an...
IT’S A very sensitive subject down in Bass Coast after local first responders attended what seemed like drowning after drowning on local beaches last summer.
The lowlight of an horrific season was the mass drowning at Forrest Caves on Wednesday, evening, January 24 when four members of a visiting family group from Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs lost their lives; Reema Sondhi 42, Kirti Bedi 20, and siblings Suhani Anand 20, and Jagjeet Singh Anand 23.
The group was caught in a deadly rip near the rocks at what is otherwise a picturesque location for those that don’t go swimming.
In the wake of the disaster, questions have been asked about the level of education and awareness about safety on our beaches, and also whether warning signs at the entrance to a number of these known hazard locations are adequate.
Now comes the claim, made by Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Richard Riordan, that his opposite number, the State Minister for Emergency Services, Jaclyn Symes, hasn’t even read a key water safety report.
“As drownings in Victoria spike over summer to record heights - 42 per cent above the 5-year average according to Royal Life Saving Australia – it was revealed in Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings last week that Minister for Emergency Services, Jaclyn Symes, hasn’t read the relevant water safety report,” according to Mr Riordan.
He said the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) completed a review into water safety arrangements in August 2023, yet when asked about this, the Minister stated: “Some of my advisers may have access to it, but I haven’t received a briefing in relation to it… we’re continuing to work with stakeholders… let me have a look at it first.”
This comes as Labor cut new initiatives in water safety by $3.5 million in the recent State Budget, impacting Surf Life Saving clubs across the State, Mr Riordan claimed.
“Already last year Life Saving Victoria suffered a close to 9 per cent cut to grant funding from the Labor Government, which put increased pressure on volunteers and paid staff across the 57 clubs throughout the State,” he said.
“The growing number of drownings in Victoria is a concern to all Victorians and on top of cuts to water safety, it has now been revealed the Minister hasn’t read, or even been briefed on, IGEM’s water safety report delivered to her nine months ago.
“This Labor Budget is a culmination of a decade of financial mismanagement and is a disaster for Victorians who love a day at the beach or enjoy water sports.
“Large cuts to new water safety initiatives mean our Life Saving Clubs will have less funds to keep Victorians safe and the least the Minister could do is read a detailed report which goes to the heart of water safety in Victoria.”
