❓ Hon. Alan Cadby raises concerns about the safety of children around increasingly large water features. Hon. Tom Stephens acknowledges the risk but prioritises swimming pool safety, focusing on pre-1992 pools and community awareness, rather than regulating water features.
AnsweredQoN 784Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Following the prolific growth in gardens incorporating water features, with some fish ponds being as large and as deep as small swimming pools, what initiatives will the Government be considering to improve the safety for children in these water-rich environments? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
My current reading of the Local Government Act has the Parliament authorising the Minister for Local Government to regulate swimming pools, but not authorising him to regulate water features such as spas, ponds, fish ponds, farm dams and the like. I am not at this stage proposing to seek such statutory authority from the Parliament. I believe there is a risk associated with such features. More information will soon be made available as a result of some work I have asked to be done in response to questions asked by Hon Ray Halligan. I was hoping to have that information by now. As I have mentioned to Hon Ray Halligan, I was wrong to expect that it would be available to me last week. It will be available soon. That information will provide more statistical data about the history of drownings in such features as those referred to by the member. Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: My current reading of the Local Government Act has the Parliament authorising the Minister for Local Government to regulate swimming pools, but not authorising him to regulate water features such as spas, ponds, fish ponds, farm dams and the like. I am not at this stage proposing to seek such statutory authority from the Parliament. I believe there is a risk associated with such features. More information will soon be made available as a result of some work I have asked to be done in response to questions asked by Hon Ray Halligan. I was hoping to have that information by now. As I have mentioned to Hon Ray Halligan, I was wrong to expect that it would be available to me last week. It will be available soon. That information will provide more statistical data about the history of drownings in such features as those referred to by the member. Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
My current reading of the Local Government Act has the Parliament authorising the Minister for Local Government to regulate swimming pools, but not authorising him to regulate water features such as spas, ponds, fish ponds, farm dams and the like. I am not at this stage proposing to seek such statutory authority from the Parliament. I believe there is a risk associated with such features. More information will soon be made available as a result of some work I have asked to be done in response to questions asked by Hon Ray Halligan. I was hoping to have that information by now. As I have mentioned to Hon Ray Halligan, I was wrong to expect that it would be available to me last week. It will be available soon. That information will provide more statistical data about the history of drownings in such features as those referred to by the member. Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: My current reading of the Local Government Act has the Parliament authorising the Minister for Local Government to regulate swimming pools, but not authorising him to regulate water features such as spas, ponds, fish ponds, farm dams and the like. I am not at this stage proposing to seek such statutory authority from the Parliament. I believe there is a risk associated with such features. More information will soon be made available as a result of some work I have asked to be done in response to questions asked by Hon Ray Halligan. I was hoping to have that information by now. As I have mentioned to Hon Ray Halligan, I was wrong to expect that it would be available to me last week. It will be available soon. That information will provide more statistical data about the history of drownings in such features as those referred to by the member. Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
My current reading of the Local Government Act has the Parliament authorising the Minister for Local Government to regulate swimming pools, but not authorising him to regulate water features such as spas, ponds, fish ponds, farm dams and the like. I am not at this stage proposing to seek such statutory authority from the Parliament. I believe there is a risk associated with such features. More information will soon be made available as a result of some work I have asked to be done in response to questions asked by Hon Ray Halligan. I was hoping to have that information by now. As I have mentioned to Hon Ray Halligan, I was wrong to expect that it would be available to me last week. It will be available soon. That information will provide more statistical data about the history of drownings in such features as those referred to by the member. Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Governments, Parliaments and ministers have to provide proportionate responses to risk and misadventure, particularly among the young. I believe that I have so far provided a proportionate response by dealing with the issue of risks in and around swimming pools by delivering on our pre-election commitment related to isolation fencing around swimming pools. I am currently considering the more risky pools, the pools that were constructed in this State prior to 1992, and I intend to bring to the Government a way of responding to the problems associated with those pools. I do not intend recommending isolation fencing for such pools, because I believe that is far too complex a step. I believe I have an obligation to tackle that issue. More importantly, the community, parents and families have to recognise that fencing by itself is not the answer to overcoming risks associated with swimming pools, fish ponds or water features. In the end, the only thing that will protect children is vigilance. Relaxing in our home environments presents particular risks associated with pools and to a lesser extent water features such as fish ponds. Nonetheless, at this stage I believe it is appropriate to deal specifically with swimming pools and that is where I am focusing my effort. If the nature of water features were to change - Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Hon Alan Cadby: They have changed now. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, they are changing. I believe we will just have to keep looking at that challenge. Regrettably, I tell members with statistical certitude that this year there will be infant fatalities associated with swimming pools, water features and farm dams. That is a statistical fact: we will have deaths of toddlers around these pools. It is our collective task to raise the consciousness of the community to try to reduce that risk, but I do not believe that a regulatory response to those additional water features raised by the member is the first step that I, as Minister for Local Government, need to take on behalf of the community of Western Australia. I think a more proportionate and considered response is the response I have embarked upon so far, delivering on the issue of future pools, which are required to have isolation fencing. I will deal retrospectively with the pre-1992 pools after I prepare proposals that I will want my colleagues to consider. When those proposals have been considered I will indicate the way the matter will be dealt with. I am happy to rule out isolation fencing for the pre-1992 pools; I do not propose to recommend that to my colleagues.
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