As the State Election approaches, Royal Life Saving NSW has called out for the NSW government and opposition to invest more in preventing drowning.

A tragic spate of drownings over Summer and into the warmer start to Autumn has already seen 40 people drown in NSW alone.

That’s the same number of deaths in Victoria and Queensland combined.

The CEO of Royal Life Saving NSW, Michael Ilinsky told Deborah Knight that they want commitments to extend the ‘First Lap Voucher’ that provides access to swimming lessons for communities that need it.

“We need a commitment of investments to continue with our swim teachers, we need to ensure that parents have access to a subsidy. The subsidy debt is not enough, “Michael said.

“We need to support First Lap Vouchers which are currently available. We are not hearing from the Opposition government to a commitment to continue on with the start of the First Lap Voucher.”

“We’re [also] finding that $100 is not enough to even get a term of lessons, it’s $200 plus.”

See more highlights from Deborah Knight below:

Image: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty