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Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Page: 6525

Senator KROGER (Victoria—Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate) (15:40): At the request of Senators Boyce, McKenzie, Di Natale and Thistlethwaite, I move:

That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   that surf life savers are as Australian as wattle, koalas and the love of sport,      (ii)   that Surf Life Saving Australia safeguards more than 100 million beach visits every year,      (iii)   that in the 2010-11 financial year there were 61 coastal drownings in Australia, a decrease of more than 15 per cent on the 84 coastal drownings in the 2009-10 financial year, as outlined in the new report, National coastal safety report 2011: A summary of coastal drowning deaths in Australia,      (iv)   that the Australian Water Safety Council aims to halve drowning deaths by the year 2020 and that Surf Life Saving Australia is pivotal to achieving that goal,      (v)   the important role that Surf Life Saving Australia plays in our community, and      (vi)   that whilst Surf Life Saving Australia provides a wonderful service, the organisation relies on the community for financial support and volunteers so it can continue ensuring our beaches are safe; and   (b)   calls on the Australian Government to:      (i)   continue support for Surf Life Saving Australia, and      (ii)   assist Surf Life Saving Australia by providing further funding for its data research program designed to support development of education, technology, communications and operations to reduce drowning deaths in Australia.

Question agreed to.