❓ Opposition questions the Premier about a reported decline in VacSwim participation and a 'cruel cut' to free pool entry, linking it to a rise in drownings. The Premier defends the government's support for swimming programs, citing increased in-term enrolments and initiatives to support swimming teachers.
AnsweredQoN 709Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VacSwim program
709. Mr Liam Staltari to
the Premier:
I refer to the
tragic surge in drownings in Western Australia and to revelations that VacSwim
participation numbers have collapsed by a third since this government came to
office. Off the back of those figures, will the Premier commit to reversing his
government's cruel cut to free pool entry for VacSwim?
709. Mr Liam Staltari to
the Premier:
I refer to the
tragic surge in drownings in Western Australia and to revelations that VacSwim
participation numbers have collapsed by a third since this government came to
office. Off the back of those figures, will the Premier commit to reversing his
government's cruel cut to free pool entry for VacSwim?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for
the question. We continue to heavily subsidise the VacSwim program, particularly
enrolment costs, to keep the program affordable for Western Australian families.
It was the subject of one of our cost-of-living measures that we put in place
in recent years. We continue to make sure that the delivery of all in-term
swimming classes remains free for public school and regional non-government
school students. More than 200,000 students are enrolled in in-term swimming programs.
Enrolments for in-term swimming has increased by over 20%, with 43,000 more enrolments
in 2025 compared with back in 2018. We continue to make sure that it is an
important part of what we do, and that includes establishing the School of Swimming
in the Department of Education, which is about ensuring that we have a more
sustainable program and a more sustainable employment program for swimming
teachers to ensure that we have the swimming teachers out where we need them.
the question. We continue to heavily subsidise the VacSwim program, particularly
enrolment costs, to keep the program affordable for Western Australian families.
It was the subject of one of our cost-of-living measures that we put in place
in recent years. We continue to make sure that the delivery of all in-term
swimming classes remains free for public school and regional non-government
school students. More than 200,000 students are enrolled in in-term swimming programs.
Enrolments for in-term swimming has increased by over 20%, with 43,000 more enrolments
in 2025 compared with back in 2018. We continue to make sure that it is an
important part of what we do, and that includes establishing the School of Swimming
in the Department of Education, which is about ensuring that we have a more
sustainable program and a more sustainable employment program for swimming
teachers to ensure that we have the swimming teachers out where we need them.
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