EXCLUSIVE
Authorities in NSW have agreed to consider feedback from the boating industry about Jet Ski licence fee increases that will see a 10-year licence cost close to $2000, resetting the benchmark as the most expensive in the world.
NSW Jet Ski licence fees were already at record highs, even before authorities announced increases of up to 88 per cent would be introduced from 1 July 2024.
In a watershed meeting yesterday, policymakers from NSW Maritime and the NSW Government agreed to discuss the issue with representatives from the Boating Industry Association (BIA) and all three major Jet Ski manufacturers Sea-Doo, Yamaha, and Kawasaki.
In the one-hour meeting – held on Tuesday afternoon – policymakers gave no indication whether there would be any changes to the imminent NSW Jet Ski licence fee increases.
It may be the case that no changes are made.
However, after initially being blindsided by the proposed changes announced last week, the Jet Ski industry has been encouraged by the fact that policymakers are now open to receiving further feedback following yesterday’s meeting.
In a media statement issued today by the Boating Industry Association (BIA) – which also represents all three Jet Ski brands Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki – spokesman Neil Patchett said:
“Most of the fee increases are based around CPI (inflation), but that is not the main issue.
“The problem is a number of fees have skyrocketed well above CPI (inflation), some are up more than 80 per cent and largely aimed at (Jet Skis).”
The Personal Watercraft Distributor Association – which includes Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki as members – also took part in yesterday’s meeting with NSW Maritime and the NSW Government.
Although representatives for Yamaha and Kawasaki were in the meeting, the Jet Ski industry’s concerns were headed by Sea-Doo’s government relations specialist for the Asia-Pacific region, Alexandre Borduas.
“We feel the PWC (Jet Ski) industry is being singled out unfairly for substantially different licence fee increases,” Mr Borduas said in a media statement.
“We hope Transport for NSW heard our concerns and will respond accordingly.”
The Boating Industry Association – with the support of the Personal Watercraft Distributor Association – has today written formally to the Transport Minister in NSW with a plan to “ease industry and public concern”.
It is unclear if NSW Maritime and the NSW Government will make any changes to Jet Ski licence fee increases after it receives formal feedback in writing from the Boating Industry Association.
For now, the Jet Ski industry – and the NSW Jet Ski community – is holding its collective breath for the proposed licence fee increases to be delayed, wiped, or significantly reduced.
As previously reported by Watercraft Zone, NSW Maritime and NSW Police are dealing with a 44 per cent surge in Jet Ski licence holders over the past five years – the highest rate of growth among all waterway users.
An increase in deaths and serious injuries among Jet Ski riders were initially blamed for the disproportionate licence fee increases for Jet Skis – which are much higher than the licence fee increases for boaties.
However, Transport for NSW data shows boat users have a much higher risk of death and serious injury than Jet Ski riders – even when the results are compared to the number of licence holders across both categories.
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.
This compares to approximately 52 serious injuries for every 100,000 boaties in the state.
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.
There is more detail on the statistics for boaties and Jet Ski riders in our news story here.
It is now apparent an increase in anti-social behaviour among rogue Jet Ski riders is one of the main drivers of licence fee increases – and NSW Maritime and NSW Police need more resources to better manage bad behaviour on the water.
While on-water safety officers have at times been subject to verbal abuse from rogue Jet Ski riders, one officer was recently physically assaulted.
Authorities have reportedly had enough of the anti-social behaviour, and are now drawing a line in the sand.
In an open letter to NSW Maritime published yesterday, Watercraft Zone pleaded with policymakers to reconsider Jet Ski licence fee increases.
Watercraft Zone also called for authorities to be given broader scope to seize Jet Skis and forfeit them to the Crown for dangerous riding offences, anti-social behaviour, and excessive noise.
Below is a quick recap of the proposed changes, which would see Jet Ski licence fees increase by up to 88 per cent, while boat licence fees would increase by up to 30 per cent.
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.
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)
MORE: Open letter to NSW Maritime pleading for a review of Jet Ski licence fees
MORE: Jet Ski death and injury stats at odds with logic behind licence fee increases
MORE: How NSW Jet Ski licence fees compare to other states
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