Media Release | 30 November 2025
Liam Staltari MLA
Shadow Minister for Education;
Early Childhood; Disability Services; Heritage
As Western Australia heads into summer, new data obtained by the State Opposition has
revealed a concerning collapse in VacSwim participation under the Cook Labor
Government.
Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari called on the State Government to reinstate the
Free Venue Entry initiative – which was cut in the 2025-26 State Budget – in time for the
upcoming summer VacSwim programs.
Figures released under Freedom of Information laws show total VacSwim enrolments have
fallen from 56,998 in 2017-18 to just 39,283 in 2025-26 – an alarming 31 per cent drop
since Labor took office.
Mr Staltari said this dramatic decline was being made worse by the Government’s mean-
spirited decision in this year’s State Budget to axe $960,000 in funding for pool entry fees, which had covered free venue entry for the VacSwim program.
“Unfortunately, drownings are up and VacSwim numbers are down – exactly the opposite
of what the community needs to see,” he said.
“VacSwim is a convenient and much-loved program that has taught generations of WA kids
to swim, but this Government’s cruel cuts to free pool entry have placed another barrier for
the many families that are already struggling.”
Those cuts mean that a family with three kids could face up to $150 in extra pool entry fees
for a 10-day VacSwim course.
The declining VacSwim numbers follow the release of Royal Life Saving Australia’s 2025
National Drowning Report, which revealed that 49 people drowned in WA in 2024-25, 36
per cent above the state’s 10-year average and the highest number of WA drownings in at
least a decade. This followed on from 41 WA drowning deaths the previous year.
This surge saddled Western Australia with the highest drowning rate in the nation – 1.65
deaths per 1,000 people.
“This is a Government that will happily spend $217.5 million on its Burswood Racetrack
while pinching pennies and cutting a VacSwim initiative that costs just $1 million,” Mr
Staltari said.
“Summer is here and now is the time to act. This Government needs to get its priorities
right and restore free VacSwim pool entry in the Mid-Year Budget Review.”
ENDS
Contact: Graham Mason 0419 194 792
