The Royal Life Saving Society - Australia congratulates the Queensland Government on its decisive action to arrest the child drowning epidemic through the introduction of new pool safety laws and has urged the rest of Australia to follow their lead.

The laws will affect all swimming pools across Queensland and, if properly enforced, will help to reduce the child drowning toll across the State.

"We are delighted that the Queensland Government has followed up the review process they began with decisive action to curb the high rate of child drowning in Queensland," Royal Life Saving Society - Australia CEO Rob Bradley said.

"Royal Life Saving believes that every State and Territory should be looking to Queensland today as Australia's leaders in pool safety and acting to bring their legislation into line with this much improved benchmark. Queensland has now set a high standard for pool safety law.

"Royal Life Saving also urges all local governments in Queensland to get behind these changes, because their active support to enforce these laws is vital to their success. How successful these changes are will be measured by the number of Queensland toddlers who survive to their first day at school who otherwise might have drowned.

"Our only concern with the new Queensland legislation is the time delay until 2010 for phase two of the new standards. Every day lost is another day where children across the State are at heightened risk of drowning. However, we appreciate the need to have a comprehensive range of measures and we hope that the additional time taken for preparation will mean all the important systems will operate effectively from day one."

Royal Life Saving Society Queensland was an active member of the pool safety review committee formed by the Queensland Government.

For more information please contact:
Belinda Lawton
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia National Communications Manager
02 8217 3133 or 0434 562 307

Background:
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia has been serving Australia for over 110 years and is the leading water safety, swimming and lifesaving education organisation in Australia. Royal Life Saving is dedicated to turning everyday people into everyday community lifesavers. We achieve this through: education; training; health promotion; aquatic risk management; community development; sport and participation; advocacy; research; and international networks. Visit our website at www.royallifesaving.com.au