Prime Minister Turnbull pledges further $3 million to surf lifesavers to curb drowning deaths

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced $3 million in Federal Government funding to help lifesavers conduct more water rescues.

Announcing that said water safety needs to be a priority to reduce the number of drowning deaths, Prime Minister Turnbull today reflected on his experience of nearly drowning as a child and how he was rescued by his father.

The extra $3 million comes on top of the $15 million spent by the Federal Government over the past five years to support lifesaving clubs.

Part of the new funding will go towards the purchase of drones to assist in spotting swimmers in trouble.

Speaking at the North Bondi Surf Club, Prime Minister Turnbull said the drones would be an improvement on the old method of using a belt, stating “it's one very good way to find out what is going on out the back, past that break, whether there is somebody out there who is struggling.”

Part of the funds will also go towards swim education and first aid technique with Prime Minister Turnbull identifying migrants as a vulnerable population that needed to be targeted.

He explained “we have to make sure wherever there is a vulnerability in any community or group - you know lack of knowledge, lack of swimming expertise, lack of awareness - that that is addressed. And that is what part of this money is going towards.”

Prime Minister Turnbull commended Austswim programs for making inroads into migrant communities adding “all of these programs are focused on ensuring that people learn how to swim. Austswim is doing a fantastic job in that regard.”

Recently appointed Federal Sport Minister Bridget McKenzie urged parents to take responsibility for ensuring their children know how to swim, again with an emphasis on migrant families.

Minister McKenzie used Australian freestyle swimmers brother-and-sister duo Ilsa and John Konrads as an example of how essential swim safety was. They lived in a small town of 900 outside of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.

Minister McKenzie advised “a new migrant family landed at that community and was very, very fearful that their Eastern European children would drown in the one of the myriad of dams in that community because father worked out on farms.

"So as a matter of urgency they got young Ilsa and young John Konrads to learn to swim. They went on to break 38 world records - that brother-and sister-team that learnt how to swim in that small country town at that pool.

"All because their parents recognised the inherent danger of the waterways, and the essential need for all of us to ensure that our kids can learn to swim."

Image: Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Surf Life Saving Australia President Graham Ford at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club today.

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