media release

DATE 9/12/08

Pool Fences

The recent horrific drownings that have been happening around Australia have alerted Senator Helen Polley to the fact that there is a problem with Tasmania’s pool safety laws.

According to local councils, Tasmania allows pools built before 1994 to be unfenced.

“Most drownings occur in pools where young children access the water without their parent’s knowledge” said the Tasmanian Royal Life Savers Advisor Geoff Lyons.

“Children drown silently. They don’t shout out, they don’t splash, they fall in and die.”

“There is no excuse for the legislation not to be updated. This matter should be addressed immediately before another Tasmanian child dies” said Senator Helen Polley.

“I believe every pool should have a fence and should be subject to a five year inspection regularly by council to insure that all latches are working properly, all screws are secure and in general checking that the pool fence is securing small children from the dangers of drowning”.

“I believe that children are sacred and should be protected at all costs. Having such a blatant risk in our community is unacceptable”.

“I am currently communicating with my State colleagues over this issue, and I will continue to until something gets done”.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics two hundred and eighty six children accidentally drowned between 1999 and 2003 in Australia.

Geoff Lyons reiterated that the chance of drowning can be reduced by “Fencing your pool, locking the gate, and learning how to resuscitate”.

Senator Polley joined Geoff Lyons by adding “Before we ask Tasmanians to lock the gate we have to make sure they have one”.

For further information contact

James Brown

(03) 6331 2599