Mr KIELY - 2005-10-11
Prior to the election of the first Martin government, the Northern Territory had a very sorry record in regard to water safety awareness. Can the minister provide an update on the success of Water Safety Month, and what is being done to improve water safety awareness in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Indeed, what a wonderful month it has been in regard to this wonderful program. Members will be aware that, initially, the Water Safety program actually only went for a weekly period for the last two years. On this occasion, we have gone out to a month. As a result of that, we have been able to focus a lot more in a way which allows us the capacity to get the message across about being able to Swim Smart, Swim Safe.
Members will also be aware that Mr Laurie Lawrence, who is very well known throughout Australia, has also played a very important role in this campaign, as did Danni Miatke, who was born in the Northern Territory and is a world champion 50 m butterflyer. She also played an important role, donating a T-shirt for a competition which was entered into by many members of a community. I believe in excess of 250 people actually put in their names to win that competition. The good news is that Danni will be the Water Safety Ambassador in 2006. We thank Danni for that.
You also mentioned, member for Sanderson, the fact that we had, on one occasion, one of the worst drowning rates in the Northern Territory. I am glad to say that that is no longer the case. In fact, the Water Safety program is now considered to be best practice by all the states in Australia. Indeed, they are looking at it in terms of being able to initiate particularly the Under 5s program in their states.
It is estimated that approximately 1500 children have participated in water safety activities as part of Water Safety Month. Over 300 students who took part in the Beat Makes a Splash, the theme of the Beat concert this year. There were around 2000 parents there on the nights of Friday 16th and Saturday 17th. I would like to thank you, Madam Speaker, for making the time available to open that concert. Unfortunately, I was in Melbourne.
It is a wonderful program and something which the Northern Territory can be very proud of. I feel particularly proud to be associated with it, being an initiative of the Labor Martin government. In all, it has been a wonderful month, and something that we should continue to support.
In conclusion, I also thank very much Mr Graham Franklin, who is the Director of the Water Safety Branch. Graham has done a wonderful job, along with a whole lot of other people. I also thank the Water Safety Advisory Council, the members of which I met with last week. I pay tribute to the wonderful work that they do.
This month, in particular, we must pay tribute to the Northern Territory News which, almost without exception on a daily basis in some form or another, ran articles related to Water Safety Month. To the Northern Territory News and everyone associated with this year’s program, thank you, and we look forward to an even bigger and better Water Safety Month in 2006.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Indeed, what a wonderful month it has been in regard to this wonderful program. Members will be aware that, initially, the Water Safety program actually only went for a weekly period for the last two years. On this occasion, we have gone out to a month. As a result of that, we have been able to focus a lot more in a way which allows us the capacity to get the message across about being able to Swim Smart, Swim Safe.
Members will also be aware that Mr Laurie Lawrence, who is very well known throughout Australia, has also played a very important role in this campaign, as did Danni Miatke, who was born in the Northern Territory and is a world champion 50 m butterflyer. She also played an important role, donating a T-shirt for a competition which was entered into by many members of a community. I believe in excess of 250 people actually put in their names to win that competition. The good news is that Danni will be the Water Safety Ambassador in 2006. We thank Danni for that.
You also mentioned, member for Sanderson, the fact that we had, on one occasion, one of the worst drowning rates in the Northern Territory. I am glad to say that that is no longer the case. In fact, the Water Safety program is now considered to be best practice by all the states in Australia. Indeed, they are looking at it in terms of being able to initiate particularly the Under 5s program in their states.
It is estimated that approximately 1500 children have participated in water safety activities as part of Water Safety Month. Over 300 students who took part in the Beat Makes a Splash, the theme of the Beat concert this year. There were around 2000 parents there on the nights of Friday 16th and Saturday 17th. I would like to thank you, Madam Speaker, for making the time available to open that concert. Unfortunately, I was in Melbourne.
It is a wonderful program and something which the Northern Territory can be very proud of. I feel particularly proud to be associated with it, being an initiative of the Labor Martin government. In all, it has been a wonderful month, and something that we should continue to support.
In conclusion, I also thank very much Mr Graham Franklin, who is the Director of the Water Safety Branch. Graham has done a wonderful job, along with a whole lot of other people. I also thank the Water Safety Advisory Council, the members of which I met with last week. I pay tribute to the wonderful work that they do.
This month, in particular, we must pay tribute to the Northern Territory News which, almost without exception on a daily basis in some form or another, ran articles related to Water Safety Month. To the Northern Territory News and everyone associated with this year’s program, thank you, and we look forward to an even bigger and better Water Safety Month in 2006.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016