In 2017-18, 249 people drowned in Australian waterways, including 56 young Australians aged under 25. Drownings cost Australia $1.47 billion a year, not to mention the tragedy of lost life and injury. A major cause of these tragic drownings is that 1 in 5 children cannot swim 50 metres when they finish primary school.

For many years I have been a strong advocate for water safety and for doing more to address the national tragedy of drowning. This is why I am proud to a member of the Australian Labor Party, which has announced Swim Smart – a $46 million commitment to ensuring that, from 2020, ALL Australian primary school children learn the water safety skills that could save their lives.