First Lap Voucher Program

The Hon. NATALIE WARD (14:36:09):

On behalf of the Hon. Taylor Martin: I move:

(1)That this House notes that:

(a)since its launch by the Coalition Government in the 2021-22 financial year, the First Lap learn to swim voucher program has resulted in the creation of 180,000 $100 vouchers helping parents offset the cost of fees for children aged between three and six years for swimming lessons;

(b)Royal Life Saving has expressed its "deepest concern and disappointment regarding the recent announcement of the potential discontinuation of the Active Kids and First Lap voucher program by the New South Wales Government";

(c)an average of three children aged five to 14 years old die from drowning each year in New South Wales;

(d)last year New South Wales experienced the highest drowning toll in more than 25 years; and

(e)without the support of the $100 First Lap swim vouchers many families in New South Wales would struggle to afford to continue meeting the costs of their children's participation in swimming lessons, resulting in children not learning skills such as general swimming techniques and treading water, survival techniques and strategies, floating and rescue skills.

(2)That this House calls on the New South Wales Government to immediately assure parents, Royal Life Saving, and the learn to swim business in New South Wales that the $100 First Lap voucher program will not be cancelled.

I speak in support of the motion. The First Lap voucher program instigated by the former Coalition Government and launched during my time as sports Minister is a truly amazing program. I acknowledge and put on record the great work of Sinclair Hill in my office, who came up with the name "First Lap". We were given some pretty average names to look at, but it is a clear indication that it is about kids doing their first lap of a pool, which is a monumental achievement in their lives and leads to saving lives. I thank him for his great work on this program. First Lap accomplishes three things that I think every member in this House would support. It provides cost‑of‑living relief, it gets young children active and it helps support the lifelong skill of learning to swim.

Much has been said and will continue to be said about the Labor Minns Government's choice not to fund programs that support families with cost-of-living pressures. I would rather discuss what happens should the union-led Labor Government not continue to fund this important program. Fundamentally, good government policy should be about outcomes, and that is what this program is about. Summer in Australia is all about swimming at your local pool, beach or river, wherever it maybe. The First Lap program is about ensuring family budgets are not stretched, so that our kids have those crucial skills of learning to swim and are supported in undertaking that vital training. The Government's own agency, the Office of Sport, agrees. It says:

Water safety education is key to ensuring children learn vital safety and survival skills from a young age – a skill they will keep with them for life. 

…

By making swimming and water safety education more accessible for families, the First Lap program will help keep NSW children healthy, happy, and safe in and around the water.

This is a crucial program. I know families who have suffered the tragedy of their children perishing because they could not swim. This saves lives and prevents tragedy. Young children near the water is a concern for all parents. I know that from personal experience. I also know the importance of teaching my own kids to swim and giving them these lifesaving skills. I thank Zaza of Dee Why for hours and hours in her backyard pool, for teaching my kids, putting up with us and getting us across the line. That first lap that they achieved by themselves was incredibly important. That is why it is puzzling that this Government is so quiet about the future of this important program. Why would any government not want to support a policy that provides such a positive outcome?

While I acknowledge the Minister for Sport and Minister for Multiculturalism is in the other place, I know from my own experience as former Minister for both portfolios, that culturally and linguistically diverse communities have challenges when it comes to swimming skills and getting children swimming lessons. In fact, not only do I know it but Royal Life Saving Australia agrees. A 2022 Royal Life Saving report states that 85 per cent of children drowning deaths occur in areas of moderate or high disadvantage. In the cases where swimming ability was recorded, more than 60 per cent were either a poor swimmer or non-swimmer. The First Lap program makes swimming and water safety education more accessible for those key groups, and that is in line with the recommendation of the Royal Life Saving report which says, "promote the pledge to enrol younger children in learn to swim programs". Fundamentally that is what the motion is about.

The Government needs to be clear with the community and families about what outcomes it supports. The First Lap program produces those positive outcomes. It saves life and helps families get those kids into those lessons. I note the cost-of-living pressures at the moment. Managing a family budget is incredibly important and families should not have to make choices to forgo some things, particularly when this Government seems to be able to find $16 million to fund the Ultimate Fighting Championship cage fighting. I am not sure why that is happening at the expense of programs that save lives, like First Lap.

It is important to understand the program is aimed at helping families get their young children into swimming lessons quickly and efficiently to gain a vital life-saving skill. A child's first few years is a crucial time for them to learn how to swim, particularly those who missed out on having lessons due to COVID. Some children even become lifesavers. Some children are the first to swim in their families; their parents might be immigrants who never had the opportunity to learn those vital skills. We want to support kids and their families so they can access important lessons such as the ones offered by First Lap.

We know health and safety of families is important but it transfers across the community because it is not only being able to swim that is important but also people who have the ability to swim may save other lives. I commend the motion to the House. I thank the Hon. Taylor Martin for giving notice of it. The motion raises the issue that last year New South Wales experienced the highest drowning toll in more than 25 years. That is a very serious issue which needs support from the Government to provide certainty to parents. Without the support of the First Lap vouchers, families will struggle to afford the programs. The Opposition calls on the Government to immediately assure parents, Royal Life Saving and the learn-to-swim business that the First Lap vouchers will not be cancelled. I leave the House with the Royal Life Saving 2017 report funded by the former Government. No family should have to drown in tears. I support the motion and commend it to the House.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (Treasurer) (14:41:32):

The Government opposes the motion. If the former Government supported the program, it should have funded it. Nothing was stopping it from funding the program, but it chose not to fund it. The Liberal-Nationals Government left no funding for the First Lap program, nor did it tell anybody there was no funding for the program. I am glad the Minns Government is able to extend it.

The Hon. Sam Farraway:

Or the Treasurer can. It is your job to find the money.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY:

And it will continue for 12 months.

The Hon. Natalie Ward:

You can.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY:

I hear the interjections of those opposite. Again, I point out that if they liked the program, they could have funded it. There was nothing to stop them from doing that. The Government supports making sure kids learn how to swim and has made sure that the program continues for another 12 months with a voucher of $50. The program will be properly evaluated so we can see whether or not it is making a difference to kids' ability to learn how to swim. I have some preliminary advice the Government has received. I am advised that the percentage of the eligible population that has redeemed their voucher for First Lap varies across local government areas [LGAs] from 2.4 per cent to 46.4 per cent, which is quite a wide variation.

The average redemption rate is 18 per cent across the 129 LGAs in New South Wales, and 35 LGAs have a below average uptake. Of those, 26 LGAs are in regional or remote New South Wales and seven are in west and south-west Sydney. Across New South Wales the lowest 23 LGAs are all located in regional or remote New South Wales. Regional uptake seems to be significantly impacted due to many of the pools only being opened seasonally as well as a significant teacher shortage. Lack of pools, shortage of swim teachers, cost and inadequate service provision capacity are reported as barriers to the First Lap voucher uptake. It is no surprise that some communities have access to swimming infrastructure and others do not.

It would be prudent for the Government to continue the program, given that it was the left on the edge of a fiscal cliff, to allow us to evaluate and work with Royal Life Saving Australia and the community to ensure that we are delivering targeted programs that make sure kids learn how to swim. That is much better than what was offered by the former Government and what we inherited. The former Government scheduled the First Lap program to expire in nine days. I am really glad that in the first three months of this Government coming to power it has found a way to continue the program. Not one of the members on the previous Expenditure Review Committee [ERC] spoke up.

The PRESIDENT:

Order! The member's time has expired.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY:

Every member on the previous ERC could have spoken up but they failed. As a result, they left the First Lap program unfunded.

The PRESIDENT:

Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat.

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (14:44:39):

I support the motion moved by the Hon. Natalie Ward on behalf of the Hon. Taylor Martin. I add my voice to the calls for the Government to carefully consider the great importance of the First Lap program and its lifesaving effects. In Australia everyone needs to know how to swim. Swimming is a part of our culture and identity in a way that is unique to our nation, with a love of the beach, surf and inland waterways that is unparalleled. Swimming is one of the most popular sports people participate in and one we have dominated in global competitions for many decades. For members who grew up in Australia, swimming lessons were an accepted part of our childhood as it was for our children and grandchildren.

National Drowning Report 2022

The First Lap voucher program is a successful program that incentivises parents through monetary savings to ensure their children learn to swim, which has lifelong and lifesaving consequences. A child's first year of swimming lessons gives them the essential survival skills necessary to save themselves from drowning. Royal Life Saving Australia noted in its that swimming skills are critical to the safety and enjoyment of water activities. It noted concern that children had missed swimming lessons due to the pandemic and also noted the importance of doing everything possible to ensure that the children of today do not become a generation of non-swimmers. During the COVID-19 years, more than three million learn-to-swim lessons were lost in New South Wales, and currently 43 per cent of children now leave New South Wales primary schools unable to swim 50 metres or float for two minutes.

The timing could not possibly be worse for New South Wales if the vouchers are discontinued because the cost of living continues to rise and last year this State experienced its highest drowning toll in 25 years. For low‑income families the vouchers mean their children can learn to swim. If they do not, it will have lifelong consequences for their social, health and physical wellbeing. I hope that when the New South Wales Government goes through the budget line by line it will put the program back in. I hope it understands the crucial importance of children learning to swim and that the survival skills taught through the First Lap program will prevent drownings and save lives. I hope it supports all children in New South Wales and gives them the opportunity to learn to swim no matter their economic position, and that it listens to the urging of Royal Life Saving Australia and continues the First Lap program beyond what it has mentioned.

The Hon. MARK BANASIAK (14:48:20):

On behalf of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, I contribute to the debate on the motion. We support the motion. I note the Treasurer's comments about concerns of uptake. He referenced data that stated the average uptake rate is 18 per cent. That is obviously a concern he will need to look at. I do not envy the Treasurer's position of having to make some tough decisions about what the Government does and does not fund. As a parent I put my three kids in swimming lessons to prioritise them having the skill to save themselves. If the choice was between my kids having swimming lessons so they could save themselves in a tricky situation and spending money on Crayola crayons or art books, I know what decision I would make.

I would not cut funding for this swimming safety program, particularly when it is halfway through being assessed. The Government should raise the value of the vouchers back up to $100 and then assess the program over the two‑year period it has been running. It should not cut it halfway through and reduce the value of the vouchers. If the Government wants to find funds, it should take them out of other non-essential voucher programs. Teaching kids to save themselves when they fall into a pool is far more important than whether they have an art book or can attend a drama or music lesson. I am not saying that music or art lessons are not great or important, but if tough choices are going to be made about what needs to be cut then the arts and crafts should be cut.

I do not envy the Treasurer's position. Historically, many governments have come to this place and done the Old Mother Hubbard trick and said, "Oh, the last government has left us with nothing." It has happened so often that I am surprised it is not a tactic written in the standing orders. However, there might be some merit to this Old Mother Hubbard claim, but I am not too sure. The Government should prioritise swimming safety over other vouchers if those tough decisions have to be made.

The Hon. MARK BUTTIGIEG (14:50:52):

I oppose the motion because it is fundamentally disingenuous in nature. As of 1 July this year, as a result of the budgeting of the former Government, who now sit opposite, the First Lap voucher program will not exist. For the benefit of members, the motion states:

(a)since its launch by the Coalition Government in the 2021-22 financial year, the First Lap learn to swim voucher program has resulted in the creation of 180,000 $100 vouchers helping parents offset the cost of fees for children aged between three and six years for swimming lessons;

Members opposite know very well that when a government does a budget, it does so for the forward years, presumably because it may stay in government.

The PRESIDENT:

Order! The Hon. Sam Farraway will come to order.

The Hon. MARK BUTTIGIEG:

Was the previous Government's logic "we may as well cut everything we can because we're on a hiding to nothing and we're not going to get re-elected"? If the motion and the Opposition's intentions were serious, it would have budgeted for the program to continue in perpetuity. Labor has come into government and the Treasurer has looked at the books. The previous Government left us a legacy of $190 billion of debt and a $12 billion deficit. The Treasurer has looked around for where the Government can save money to prioritise its election promises. In response to the motion, the Treasurer said that the vouchers would continue at a rate of $50 for another 12 months. To keep the program going is a compromised position.

The concerns enunciated by the Hon. Mark Banasiak are very real and valid. The Government has taken his position onboard and said that the program is valuable, but at a rate of $50 for the next 12 months. The Government has reinstituted the funding for the program, which the previous Government cut, yet members opposite have the temerity to say, "Why aren't you keeping the project going?" They did not budget for it. Had members opposite won the election—in the unlikely event that the poor old people of New South Wales had voted to put up with another four years of them—there would have been no money left for this program. The fact is now there is.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL (14:53:55):

It is so lovely to see spirited debate on private members' day. That is what it is all about.

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey:

You were on the expenditure review committee [ERC]. Weren't you the deputy leader?

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL:

No, I wasn't on the ERC.

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey:

Why didn't you fund it? You were in the Cabinet.

The PRESIDENT:

Order!

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey:

You should've asked questions.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL:

This is a really serious motion.

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey:

You kept quiet. You let Matt Kean do what he wanted.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL:

We are talking about having a voucher system in place to allow young people to learn how to swim.

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey:

You funded everything else. You found money for Barra for New York but couldn't find money for this.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL:

I appreciate the continued interjections from the Treasurer. I am pleased that he thinks this can be made light of when we are talking about saving lives. I will refer my comments largely to what the Hon. Rod Roberts said during his private member's statement earlier today. Royal Life Saving New South Wales has said that the First Lap vouchers program works.

The PRESIDENT:

Order! If the Treasurer and the Hon. Sam Farraway wish to continue their conversation, they will do so outside the Chamber.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL:

In his contribution the Treasurer talked about the different statistics around the uptake of the program. It should not be a surprise to members opposite that premium aquatic facilities cannot be accessed every day of the year in rural, regional and remote New South Wales. However, many communities do have access to fantastic swimming opportunities. My home town of Gunnedah has a heated pool, which has been there for many years. I learnt to swim in that wonderful pool. From speaking to other parents at the pool when my kids have been there for swimming lessons, I know the difference that the First Lap vouchers have made for kids aged three to six. As a parent I know that there is no more important skill for a child than the ability to swim. Given that we live in a country where we are in the water day in, day out, and a lot of people during the hot summer months—and even in the winter—go swimming, our children need to have that basic skill. I agree with the Hon. Mark Banasiak that the number one thing as a mum or dad is making sure that your children are able to swim.

It is really important that programs like this continue. The Treasurer has said it will continue but with $50 vouchers rather than $100. This will mean that every family in New South Wales who accesses the program—if it continues—will be worse off under this Labor Government because of the choices that it makes about where money is invested. The Government can go on and on—as it is doing ad nauseam—about black holes. But when in government, every time there is a budget Treasurers must make decisions about where money is spent and what priorities receive funding. That is part of being in government. Welcome to government—choices must be made that determine a government's priorities. This Government is clearly walking away from families in New South Wales. Whether it is First Lap, Active Kids or Creative Kids, it is not interested in helping people's household budgets. During the election campaign the Opposition warned that when Labor cannot manage the budget, it will come after yours. The sad thing is that, in this instance, kids learning how to swim will miss out.

The Hon. ROD ROBERTS (14:57:03):

One Nation supports the motion. Mr President, you were not in the chair during private members' statements, but my contribution was on the First Lap voucher program. I will save members the torture of listening to my voice all over again for too long, but I will reiterate a couple of points that I made to the Treasurer. I noticed that he nodded along, so I hope he is sincere in taking them onboard. The point that I want on record—and those who are reading this debate can refer to my earlier statement—is that there is anecdotal evidence that the vouchers are working. According to the latest annual Royal Life Saving Society Australia report, in 2022 New South Wales saw a decrease in drowning deaths in two of the youngest age groups: zero to four and five to 14. Deaths actually went down compared with the general population, in which swimming drowning deaths increased. There is anecdotal evidence that the vouchers have been successful in reducing deaths in the targeted age groups.

I had a conversation with the Minister for Sport's chief of staff and I was very sympathetic towards some of the issues that he raised. I implore him to research the accessibility of the vouchers. In the meantime, he should not cut them. We are talking about children's lives here. Since the Opposition took this side of the Chamber, we often hear "cut, cut, cut, cut, cut" during debates. I am glad that this Treasurer is in charge now and will be doing some cutting. When Matt Kean was at the helm of the SS Treasury, he spent like the proverbial drunken sailor on vouchers that were neither required nor necessary. I implore the Government to, and will reward it for, means‑testing the program. Why should I, on my salary and given my financial circumstances, be given swimming vouchers when I clearly do not need them? Making the program more targeted is a budgetary saving that can be made, and I am sure the Treasurer will do that.

I implore the Government to make cuts. It needs to make cuts, just like we and our families do. We have wants and needs, and the Government has wants and needs as well. When planning the cuts, I urge the Treasurer to remember one phrase: What price is a life? I have provided the evidence, and I do not want to be in this Chamber discussing it again.

The Hon. Dr SARAH KAINE (14:59:49):

I thank the Treasurer for the midyear economic statement that he made yesterday, from which we learnt why the Government has had to make and will have to make difficult choices, including choices about the types of programs that we are discussing today. Yesterday we also heard about how the Government is managing to keep those important programs in some capacity for those who need them most, despite being saddled with record-breaking debt to the tune of $187 billion—the largest in this State's history. But we are not talking about the $7 billion black hole; we might get to that later. When I was reflecting on the Treasurer's briefing yesterday, the case that came to mind, which I am sure many in the House will know of, was that of the US energy company Enron and the accounting methods it became—

The Hon. Natalie Ward:

Point of order: I appreciate the honourable member's passion and her entitlement to make a contribution, but I would ask that you draw her back to the substance of the motion. She is a minute into her contribution and is straying beyond the subject of the motion.

The PRESIDENT:

There is no point of order. Wide latitude is extended to members in this debate.

The Hon. Dr SARAH KAINE:

I was reflecting on the US energy company Enron, which became known in the late nineties and early 2000s for accounting methods by which it was able to conceal billions of dollars of liabilities. It got me thinking that we are talking about that kind of thing—the governmental equivalent of Enron. The discovery of the situation that the Treasurer outlined yesterday is serious and relates directly to the types of programs that we are talking about and our capacity to pay for them. We are taking it seriously. Our new Government needs to address it so that we do not saddle with crippling intergenerational debt the generation for which we want to ensure access to sport and swimming lessons through those programs. There is much more to say about how to most effectively target swimming programs and we will consider that over the next 12 months. Obviously we understand the importance of children's safety—in the pool, on the beach and in all recreational activities. Any suggestion otherwise is ludicrous.

The Hon. WES FANG (15:02:51):

I make a brief contribution to debate. What the "First Lap" is Labor thinking? It is prioritising its union mates and their pay rises over kids and swimming lessons. We should not be debating this motion; we should be seeing this Government supporting kids learning to swim. I cannot believe it is so mean-spirited that it would cut a program that helps children learn to swim in this country where swimming is such a huge part of the culture. Those opposite need to have a good hard look at themselves and think about the priorities that they are bringing to government because members on this side of the House support kids learning to swim. That is why we put the First Lap program in place.

From those opposite we see an escalation of wage offers to union mates and cuts to voucher programs like Active Kids and now First Lap. What is next? Will they means-test First Lap as well? Will they choose winners and losers by deciding who gets to learn to swim? I cannot believe that we had to bring this motion to the House. This is the mean-spirited and tough, unionised Government that we expect from the Labor Party. Its union mates will get the benefit of the cuts that New South Wales families will experience. It is doing that by cutting swimming lessons for kids.

Cuts to voucher programs are the tip of the iceberg as to the priorities of the Government and what it will bring. I want to know what it will cut next and what New South Wales families will have to make choices about. The Government has made choices about what it will fund and has decided to prioritise its union mates over New South Wales kids. That is an absolute tragedy. Members on this side of the House will continue to advocate and fight for New South Wales kids. We will continue to fight for every family to have access to programs like Active Kids. A married couple of a policeman and a nurse probably does not qualify for Family Tax Benefit Part A and would not even be eligible for an Active Kids voucher. Shame on Labor!

The Hon. NATALIE WARD (15:06:04):

On behalf of the Hon. Taylor Martin: In reply: I thank all honourable members for their contributions. The invented allegation that the First Lap program was not funded by the former Liberal-Nationals Government is a lie. It set up and launched First Lap, Creative Kids and Active Kids voucher programs and helped hundreds of thousands of families. As part of the normal budget process those items continue, and that was our intention. I place that on record unequivocally. We put those fantastic vouchers in place. The Government clearly does not understand how a budget works. It has been clear that it is committed to Ultimate Fighting Championship [UFC] funding. It has found $16 million to fund cage fighting by domestic violence perpetrators but cannot seem to find the money for kids' swimming lessons. I urge the Government to rethink that. Kids do not know what local government area they live in or the status of infrastructure in their area. They just know that they need those lessons, and their families know they need those lessons. It is important we back them in.

I thank the Hon. Aileen MacDonald and the Hon. Mark Banasiak for their contributions. The Hon. Mark Banasiak said there are tough choices to be made, and I agree with him. It is hard being in government. There are tough choices to be made but the First Lap program should not be on the list of things to cut. I thank the Hon. Mark Buttigieg for his contribution. He spoke about finding funding. The Government seems to be able to find $16 million for UFC. Again I urge him to think seriously about that decision. I also thank the Hon. Sarah Mitchell and the Hon. Rod Roberts for their contributions. I also thank the Hon. Rod Roberts for his private member's statement earlier today, which was based on statistical evidence. It is clear: What price a life? I commend him and thank him for his support. I thank the Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine for her impassioned contribution. I have to confess I am not sure I followed it. I am not sure that kids care about Enron; they care about saving lives. I thank the Hon. Wes Fang for his ongoing passion, and I agree with him: Fighting for all kids and families is important.

I urge all honourable members to consider priorities. This is a bipartisan issue about saving lives. We can talk about budgets, do the razzle‑dazzle in this place and throw words at each other, but it is a serious matter. We must consider the implications of cutting a program like First Lap and reaching into family budgets without thinking about the implications for children and families. There can be horrific outcomes. I urge all honourable members to consider carefully what is at stake: the lives of children and the impact on families. The Treasurer should consider that carefully. I commend the motion to the House.

The PRESIDENT:

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes16

Noes20

Majority4

Motion negatived.

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