CANBERRA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has promised that every child will have access to swimming lessons if he is elected Prime Minister in May.
Shorten, leader of the federal Australian Labor Party (ALP), on Sunday committed 46 million Australian dollars (about 33 million U.S. dollars) over four years to guarantee every primary school student has access to school-based swimming and water safety lessons.
There have been 65 drowning deaths in Australia's waterways since the start of December as people try to escape the summer heat.
"Aussies love swimming, but too many young people are growing up without learning sufficient water safety skills to keep them safe," Shorten told reporters.
Approximately 20 percent of Australian children leave school unable to swim 50 meters.
Of the 250 drowning deaths in 2018, 50 were people aged 25 and under.
Shorten said that access to school-based swimming lessons was inconsistent.
"This is unfair and unsafe. We don't want children to miss out," Shorten said.
"Swimming lessons aren't just something parents should have to organize on weekends or during the holidays. It's a critical part of growing up safe in Australia, so it should be part of the school term," Shorten said.
Under the initiative, an ALP government would provide additional support to children with disabilities, so they can participate in the lessons.
