Parents of Justin Brody Morgan-Parke want NT pool fencing laws changed following son’s drowning

The devastated parents of a toddler who drowned last month have called on the NT Government to make urgent changes to its “weak” pool fencing laws

Three-year-old Spiderman-loving Justin Brody Morgan-Parke tragically drowned after falling into an unfenced spa that was on a rural block just 40km out of Darwin on January 9.

The devastated parents of a toddler who drowned in Herbert last month have called on the NT Government to make urgent changes to its “weak” pool fencing laws before more children lose their lives in the Northern Territory.

Three-year-old Spider-Man fan Justin Brody Morgan-Parke tragically drowned after falling into an unfenced spa on a rural block just 40km out of Darwin on January 9.

The Swimming Pool Safety Act, which requires a barrier around swimming pools and spas, only applies to properties smaller than 1.8ha, meaning many existing rural blocks with pools or spas are exempt from fencing laws.

The family has also hit out at the lack of information they have received from NT Police about the progress of the investigation into their son’s death.

The little boy was being cared for by a family friend at her property at the time.

A police spokeswoman said yesterday the matter was still under investigation and a report for the Coroner was being prepared.

Justin’s mum and dad Jenny Morgan and Craig Parke spoke exclusively to the NT News saying their world had been rocked by the loss of their “beautiful, funny and bright” little boy.

“I just can’t sit here knowing that these weak pool laws exist and have another family go through the hell that we are living right now,” an emotional Mr Parke said.

“He was our baby ... our bright, energetic, cheeky little boy ... he was just learning so much and discovering new things every day ... and for this to happen ... it’s heartbreaking.”

Mr Parke said action needed to be taken immediately to extend pool fencing legislation to all properties, including those on blocks larger than 1.8ha and retrospectively to cover those built before 2003.

The NT Government passed mandatory pool fencing legislation in 2003 following a spate of drownings in the NT, but the laws exempted properties built before March 2003 and those larger than 1.8ha.

“If this property was fenced my boy would still be alive. Each year so many kids drown across this country.

“It should just bloody be made mandatory. Kids are interested in pools. They love water.

”Rural blocks are just as dangerous – if not more – than urban properties with pools. You can have a spa located so far back on a block concealed by bushland so a child can easily fall into it ... yet it does not need to be fenced.”

Lands and Planning Minister David Tollner said a review into the Swimming Pool Safety Act was under way and would examine whether legislative amendments were required.