EXCLUSIVE
Detailed data outlining the true number of deaths and serious injuries among boaties and Jet Ski riders in NSW has debunked the logic authorities used to increase Jet Ski licence fees to new record highs.
Boaties – not Jet Ski riders – are at a greater risk of death and serious injury in NSW, according to the latest statistics from authorities.
The official government data is at odds with claims by policymakers that NSW Jet Ski licence fees must increase from 1 July 2024 to account for a rise in the cost of hospitalisations due to serious injuries among Jet Ski riders.
Last week, the NSW Government reset the benchmark as having the most expensive Jet Ski licence fees in the world.
Jet Ski licence fee increases in NSW from 1 July 2024:
- 1 year Jet Ski licence: Was $210, now $245 (up 17 per cent)
- 3 year Jet Ski licence: Was $460, now $662 (up 44 per cent)
- 5 year Jet Ski licence: Was $720, now $1042 (up 45 per cent)
- 10 year Jet Ski licence: Was $1043, now $1961 (up 88 per cent)
The NSW Jet Ski licence fees compare to $124 for a lifetime licence for a Jet Ski in Queensland, and $45 for a one-year licence for a Jet Ski in Victoria.
The NSW fees for a Jet Ski licence are also significantly higher than for boaties in the state.
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)
Data provided by Transport for NSW shows three people have died on Jet Skis in NSW over the past five years, and no deaths have been reported so far this year.
This compares to 87 deaths among boat users (excluding Jet Skis) reported to NSW Maritime over the past five years, including 14 so far this year.
When the number of Jet Ski deaths in NSW over the past five years is compared to the number of Jet Ski licence holders in NSW over the same period, it equates to about 3 deaths for every 100,000 riders.
When the number of deaths among boat users in NSW over the past five years is compared to the number of boat licence holders in NSW over the same period, it equates to about 15 deaths for every 100,000 boaties.
As for serious injuries, official data shows there have been 23 serious injuries involving Jet Skis reported to NSW Maritime over the past five years, including 7 reported so far this year.
The same data set shows there have been 242 serious injuries involving boat users (excluding Jet Skis) reported to NSW Maritime over the past five years, including 26 reported so far this year.
When serious injury data in NSW is compared to the number of Jet Ski licence holders and boat licence holders in the state, it shows boat users are at a greater risk of serious injury than Jet Ski riders – both in raw numbers and compared to the ratio of licence holders.
Crunching the numbers shows the rate of Jet Ski injuries in NSW over the past five years equates to approximately 26 serious injuries for every 100,000 Jet Ski riders in the state.
The rate of injuries among boat users in NSW over the past five years equates to approximately 52 serious injuries for every 100,000 boaties in the state.
When NSW Maritime announced record high Jet Ski licence fee increases, its media statement said this was because Jet Skis have been “heavily over-represented in boating incidents … and in serious injury incidents” over the past 10 years.
NSW Maritime also noted Jet Ski riders are “subject to the largest fee increase, due to a large increase in the number of (Jet Ski) riders on NSW waterways, and higher costs to regulate this segment of boaters.”
Authorities said Jet Ski licences and registrations had increased by more than 40 per cent since 2018 “which is a faster rate than any other registered recreational vessel group.”
“As such, the higher fees are directly reflective of the increased resources and effort required by NSW Maritime to regulate this user group (Jet Ski riders),” said NSW Maritime.
In response to queries from Watercraft Zone about the licence fee increases, a spokesperson for Transport for NSW said in a statement:
“NSW Maritime acknowledges the concerns regarding fee increases and their impact on our customers.
“However, ensuring the safety of everyone on our waterways remains our top priority.
“The recently announced increases to General Boat and Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) Licence and Registrations, effective 1 July 2024, are necessary to allow us to continue conducting vital safety activities and invest in critical infrastructure to keep everyone safe on our waterways.”
It is worth noting the Jet Ski licence fee increases are being imposed even though Jet Ski riders – and people who are new to the sport – have injected a massive financial windfall to the NSW Government over the past five years.
Using the annual Jet Ski licence fee of $210 as a guide – and taking into account the additional 28,000 people who have signed up for a Jet Ski licence in NSW over the past five years – the NSW Jet Ski community has already contributed at a minimum an extra $5.8 million in revenue from new licence holders.
And that’s before the higher licence fees come into force from 1 July 2024.
That extra $5.8 million does not include the base of 62,000 Jet Ski riders in NSW who contribute approximately $13 million in licence fees annually, by far the highest total in Australia.
NSW authorities say Jet Ski licence fees go towards funding additional on-water safety officers and vessels, to help enforce safe riding practices on our waterways.
Here are the raw numbers from Transport for NSW.
Jet Ski registrations in NSW over the past five years:
- 14,300 as of 31 December 2018
- 20,500 as of 31 December 2023 (44 per cent increase)
Boat registrations in NSW over the past five years:
- 224,000 as of 31 December 2018
- 218,000 as of 31 December 2023 (2.7 per cent decline)
Jet Ski (personal watercraft) licence holders in NSW over the past five years:
- About 62,000 as of 31 December 2018
- About 90,000 as of 31 December 2023 (45 per cent increase)
Boat licence holders in NSW over the past five years:
- About 457,000 as of 31 December 2018
- About 460,000 as of 31 December 2023 (0.7 per cent increase)
Jet Ski (personal watercraft) fatalities in NSW by Financial Year:
- Total over this period: 3
- FY2023-24 to date: 0
- FY2022-23: 0
- FY2021-22: 1
- FY2020-21: 0
- FY2019-20: 0
- FY2018-19: 2
Boating fatalities in NSW by Financial Year (excluding Jet Skis):
- Total over this period: 87
- FY2023-24 to date: 14
- FY2022-23: 9
- FY2021-22: 13
- FY2020-21: 17
- FY2019-20: 25
- FY2018-19: 9
Jet Ski (personal watercraft) serious injuries in NSW by Financial Year:
- Total over this period: 23
- FY2023-24 to date: 7
- FY2022-23: 1
- FY2021-22: 3
- FY2020-21: 6
- FY2019-20: 2
- FY2018-19: 4
Boating serious injuries in NSW by Financial Year (excluding Jet Skis):
- Total over this period: 242
- FY2023-24 to date: 26
- FY2022-23: 34
- FY2021-22: 44
- FY2020-21: 47
- FY2019-20: 36
- FY2018-19: 55
Note: NSW Maritime reports serious injuries and fatalities on a financial year basis to provide a comprehensive overview of waterway incidents, particularly during peak seasons such as summer between December and February.
MORE: Read our open letter to NSW Maritime
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