Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australia has recorded its highest number of drowning deaths since records began. That's one of the key take-outs from the Royal Life Saving Society Australia's latest report, which was launched at Parliament House, and I commend them on an excellent report. Tragically, Phillip Island has seen a number of drownings in recent years. Lives have been lost, families remain in grief and first responders carry lifelong scars.

About six months ago, Coroners Court of Victoria handed down findings into the state's deadliest drowning tragedy in almost 20 years. It is horrific to read, and yet Victorian Labor proceeds to cut and cost shift to already stretched local councils. Surf Life Saving Victoria has recently written to local government organisations in coastal communities saying that ratepayers will need to pay more to ensure patrolled beaches can be sustained at their current levels. The alternative is that those patrols will drop. The consequence will be that more people will be at risk of drowning.

Last year, Bass Coast Shire Council contributed $98,000 towards the Royal Life Saving Society surf patrols. This year they have been requested to fund $260,000. That is a 160 per cent increase with minimal consultation—outside standard budget requests. The council have 2,000 short-stay rentals. This is a looming disaster. We know Labor has never met a levy it didn't like. Our community deserves so much better.

See this speech in context