Have your say on boat safety

Queenslanders are being invited to have their say on further improving boating safety on our waterways.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, told State Parliament today people were being invited to have their say on a special Maritime Safety Queensland discussion paper on recreational boating safety.

“Queensland is the boating capital of Australia with almost 214,000 registered recreational vessels,” Mr Lucas said.

“Growth in boat ownership has continued to outstrip population growth by around two to one annually for the past five years. This presents some real challenges for maintaining the safety and sustainability of Queensland’s waterways.”

Mr Lucas said a number of tough new boating laws had been introduced since he became Transport Minister, including:

• ensuring licence holders had to get out on the water and demonstrate their competency unlike other states;
• requiring a separate licence for jet skis;
• removing the loophole where large vessels that didn’t plane were exempt from recreational licences; and
• making it compulsory for children under 12 to wear life jackets in small boats underway and for all people to wear life jackets when crossing designated coastal bars.

“Maritime Safety Queensland is seeking public feedback on marine safety issues that have been raised by the boating public, the marine industry and marine enforcement agencies, as part of its Improving Recreational Boating Safety discussion paper.”

“The discussion paper looks at whether operators of boats over 15m should require a special licence. But if people think a special licence should be mandatory for boats of a smaller length, we’d like to hear that.

“We’ve got tough laws already but if we need to strengthen them further, we will. And even Australia’s toughest licencing regime may arguably be insufficient for large recreational vessels.”

Issues considered in the discussion paper include:

• Compulsory wearing of personal flotation devices in higher risk boating activities,
• Advanced marine licence for operating large recreational boats,
• Operating a powered recreational vessel without a licence,
• Safety equipment and safety initiatives for jet skis,
• Control of defective vessels.

Marine Queensland President, Mr Barry Jenkins, said he encouraged boaties to take a close look at the paper and consider the wide ranging issues presented for comment.

“With the number of boats on Queensland's waterways growing by around 10,000 every year, it is vitally important that the boating community takes this opportunity to have their say on these far reaching marine safety issues,” Mr Jenkins said.

“This is a genuine opportunity for the boating community to get involved and help guide government decision making about boating regulation for the future.

“Often I hear people saying 'what's the point, they've already made up their mind' when it comes to the release of discussion papers. I can assure boaters that this is not the case, and the Queensland Government, through Maritime Safety Queensland, is really interested in what the boating public has to say.

“Although Queensland has a good marine safety record and the best recreational boat licensing system in Australia, the government and boating industry can't be complacent. The Government needs to continually review marine safety systems and programs and make improvements as required.

“Marine Queensland will certainly be encouraging all of its members to have their say and we will be taking a keen interest in any specific proposals that might come out of this important public consultation process,” Mr Jenkins said.

Mr Lucas said he appreciated the contribution made by Marine Queensland in helping to engage the marine industry and boating community and the constructive feedback they offered government.

“Maritime Safety Queensland has been working with the industry for some time on this discussion paper,” Mr Lucas said.

“I urge everyone interested in boating safety to say to have their say.”

The discussion paper will be available from the MSQ website from tomorrow at www.msq.qld.gov.au. Printed copies can be obtained from Maritime Safety Queensland by telephoning (07) 3120 7353.

Comments on the discussion paper are open until Friday, 2 November 2007.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942