Fight the proposed boating regulations
BOATERS BEWARE: You're in for a rough ride!
A range of new penalties and significant increases in fees and fines are about to hit all Victorian boat users.
The articles below were published in The Weekly Times to help explain what those changes that will affect all boat owners and licensees. They also explain changes being made that will directly affect anglers.
Print or forward it for your fishing club and mates!
The articles are "must reads" for every boating and fishing club.
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Weekly Times - 7 December 2011 Click on the images to read the articles. The Minister for Ports has described the claims as misleading, however he has not explained why. The fact remains the regulations impose a raft of new offences and significantly increased fines. |
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This is not the first attack on boat owners and operators. The previous government made the wearing of life jackets mandatory and proposed a major increase in the number of marine parks. We have to stop this trend! |
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Weekly Times - 14 December 2011 The Weekly Times followed the earlier edition up with Click on the images to read the articles. In these articles, the Weekly Times challenges made by |
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The Boating Industry Association is a key stakeholder. It was so concerned about the proposed regulations, that it issued this media release.
Simply put, the association said that if the proposed regulations are made, they will add significantly to the cost of getting a boat license ($643), add more than 80 new offences and increase penalties by over 300%.
If you have a boat more than 9 years old, you will need to have a new special number attached to your hull, which is then verified by an "accredited person" - at your cost!
The Regulatory Impact Statement is over 200 pages long and somewhat vague in explaining why the changes are needed. While it is well written, it skips over important details such as why certain conclusions are reached.
The document:
- Has conclusions based on single digit statistics which will always mispresent trends (there is no application of normal 'statistical testing');
- Does not acknowledge that absolute injury numbers increase with population growth;
- Insultingly suggests licensed boaties could use the registration system "for criminal purposes";
- Specifies items such as faulty air vents as making whole vessels "not fit for purpose";
- Will require boaties to report any "injury or illness" to the safety regulator;
- Contemplates changing the current 4.8m cutoff for wearing life jackets to 6m;
- Fails to recognise risks that people are willing to accept.
It's a crafty, misleading document.
Country Alliance is in a powerful position by being able to help the boating community fight this. We can (and will) do this by setting new policies prior to the election. The simple solution that the government should adopt is to simply roll the current regulations over until better consultation can be guaranteed.
The government must not "rush" this process!
What you can do.
There is little point in lobbying the MPs who are letting us down. They don't seem to recognise the value of real consultation or the economic contribution you make to the Victorian economy.
You can fight. You can support our campaign at the next state election in 2014 to stand up for the boating community!
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and get involved. Or join us today!