More than 90,000 Jet Ski riders in NSW – and the Jet Ski businesses that support them – are being asked to contact the state government politician in their local area to request an urgent review into proposed Jet Ski licence fee increases that will be the most expensive in the world.
The Boating Industry Association (BIA) has today issued an email to all members of the Jet Ski community – via the three major brands Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki – in an industry-wide “call to action” before the proposed changes come into force from 1 July 2024.
The NSW Jet Ski licence fee increases of up to 88 per cent – and 10-year licence fee of almost $2000 – run the risk of “forcing families out of the sport in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, and sending boating and (Jet Ski) businesses to the wall,” said BIA spokesman Neil Patchett.
The senior boating industry representative said record increases to Jet Ski licence and registration fees will “directly impact the hundreds of boating and (Jet Ski) businesses in NSW, the thousands of people they employ – including apprentice mechanics – and the hip pockets of more than 90,000 (Jet Ski) licence holders and 460,000 boat licence holders across the State”.
The Boating Industry Association is still waiting on a formal response from the NSW Government after a meeting was held last week, which also included a representative for all three Personal Watercraft (PWC) brands – Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki.
“Faced with a looming deadline – and no indication as to whether the extra-ordinary price hikes will be reviewed by the NSW Government – BIA is encouraging boating and personal watercraft business owners, and (Jet Ski) owners to contact their local NSW Member of Parliament and make their concerns known,” says the email to the NSW boating and Jet Ski industry.
“It is normal for Transport for NSW to adjust boating fees for boat licences, registration and moorings annually to reflect inflation (CPI), and that has been the approach for more than 20 years,” Mr Patchett said in the bulletin.
“Transport for NSW, however, this year has applied extraordinary increases of up 88 per cent, even though the current rate of inflation (CPI) in the wider economy is 5.89 per cent without consulting industry or boater, or (Jet Ski) groups.”
As previously reported by Watercraft Zone, the NSW Government is proposing substantial increases in Jet Ski licence and registration fees even though it has already received a massive financial windfall after the number of Jet Ski licence holders in the state grew by 44 per cent over the past five years.
“On the most conservative estimates, the NSW Government has already pocketed an extra $5.9 million each year, and yet with these astronomical fees it is coming back for more to make up for their own budget pressures,” the email from the Boating Industry Association says.
Here is a quick recap of the changes to fees:
PWC licence fee increases in NSW from 1 July 2024:
- 1 year PWC licence: was $210, now $245 (up 17 per cent)
- 3 year PWC licence: was $460, now $662 (up 44 per cent)
- 5 year PWC licence: was $720, now $1042 (up 45 per cent)
- 10 year PWC licence: was $1043, now $1961 (up 88 per cent)
The NSW PWC licence fees compare to $124 for a lifetime licence for a PWC in Queensland, and $45 for a one-year licence for a PWC in Victoria.
Boat licence fees increases in NSW from 1 July 2024:
- 1 year Boat licence: was $69, now $77 (up 12 per cent)
- 3 year Boat licence: was $185, now $220 (up 19 per cent)
- 5 year Boat licence: was $292, now $351 (up 20 per cent)
- 10 year Boat licence: was $521, now $679 (up 30 per cent)
The BIA spokesperson for all three Jet Ski brands – Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki – is the government relations representative for Sea-Doo in the Asia-Pacific region, Alexandre Borduas.
For now, Mr Borduas has not changed his statement from last week.
“We feel the (Jet Ski) industry is being singled out unfairly for substantially different licence fee increases. We hope Transport for NSW heard our concerns and will respond accordingly.”
Last week, the Boating Industry Association met with senior officials from NSW Maritime and the NSW Government – and wrote formally to the NSW Minister for Transport pleading for a review – however policymakers gave no indication whether the astronomical licence fee increases for Jet Skis and boats would change before the 1 July 2024 implementation.
As this article was published the Boating Industry Association was still waiting on a formal response from the NSW Government.
The email from the Boating Industry Association (BIA) to the NSW Jet Ski business owners – a copy of which has been obtained by Watercraft Zone – shows how NSW Jet Ski community members can contact their local state politician.
The email noted the record licence fee increases were far in excess of inflation, and accused the NSW Government of charging Jet Ski riders and boaties higher licence and registration fees to make up for financial shortfalls in other departments.
The Boating Industry Association (BIA) urged NSW Jet Ski businesses – and NSW Jet Ski riders – to contact their local state politician via the following method “before it is too late”.
Below are the instructions the Boating Industry Association (BIA) provided to the NSW Jet Ski community.
How to voice your concerns about NSW Jet Ski licence fee increases:
- Go to https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/find-my-electorate
- Enter your street address, hit ‘find’, and it will name your State District in blue
- Click that and then scroll down to ‘Parliamentary representation’ and click on that block
- At the top of the list is the name of the current NSW member of parliament for your area
- Simply copy that name and paste it into Google, go to their website, and find that politician’s contact email address
- Please write your feedback politely and respectfully but also make it clear how unfair these proposed changes are using the information above
The email continued: “We urge you to take the time to consider having your voice heard before it is too late. These changes will adversely impact your business and boating lifestyle if urgent action is not taken today.”
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