Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

I read with interest (amazement!) in today's Weekly Times that the Victorian government plans to introduce 80 odd new regs into recreational boating.

A few things that jumped out were:
* to obtain a boat licence, you will be up for about $643 to cover the mandatory training course that you will be required to pass. That's just to operate a boat (but it's OK, the actual licence fee will remain at about $30).
* if you want to tow a skier or tube, you'll have do another mandatory course that will set you back another $538!
* if you fail to wear a life jacket, the fine will jump from the current $195 to the new $611. Compare that to failing to wear a seatbelt in a car, which is $165.

Of course, you can challenge any of these if you do get a fine, but it will cost you $2443 in court costs.

On top of all this, local councils will be allowed to impose the fines and it seems keep the money. I bet that will make money starved councils tell their officers to be super diligent in finding faults, particularly if councils are pocketing the fines, which it seems.

As always, the joke is with the claims of the data used for justification. A couple of examples used being were a body-boarder being swept out to sea and having scuba and snorkelling accidents included in the data as it was not known if boats were used in the activity.

I'm all for safety, but this is nothing but a blatant money grab.

Greg

This will get a lot of votes !!!!!!!!!
Ross

Might have to move to SA or NSW after all. Where do they get off with all this stuff? Do we have a right to put in a counter-submission? Or question their background research on this issue?

You're spot on with your local council prediction Greg, there's a local laws inforcement officer in our shire, and he's pretty damn savage when it comes to parking in little old Yarrawonga. Talk about being over-governed.

Jon
And to think, you are only about 100 metres from the border. Doesn't that just p*ss you off?
Greg

To all Victorians that had SA licences....
I believe that the Vic Roads confiscated or you were made to surender them
when you applied for a Vic licence .Well Liz (my partner) applied to SA and they are still valid .
All you need do is call them and apply for a reissue .It costs about a tenner .
Also the Queensland boat licence is a perpetual one too.
The Vic govenment must be broke .
Ric...

No new boating fees in Victoria.
Govt. has backed down.
. Doc.

Phew, I thought I was going to have to temporarily move to Balranald for licencing purposes!

Is that Tim Holding still in the Vic Govt? It reeks of one of his hair brained schemes, like the north-south pipeline fiasco. Anyway, thank god they've seen the light.

No Hookster that little twerp belongs to the other pack of boofheads that was kicked out last election

I have trouble telling the difference these days

Sensible outcome in the end. Where did you see the retraction Doc?

You really do have to wonder about the clowns we put in to run the place.

Greg