❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier about proposed changes to life jacket regulations, citing a position statement suggesting relaxed rules. The Premier clarifies it's a consultation paper, not policy, and defends the consultation process.
AnsweredQoN 1047Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIFE JACKETS
1047. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
ill-informed comments yesterday in the house suggesting that the Minister for
Transport —
Mr T. Healy interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Southern River, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms L. METTAM : I refer to the
Premier's ill-informed comments yesterday in the house suggesting that
the Minister for Transport was toughening the requirements for life jackets and
boat safety.
(1) Can the Premier confirm proposal
2 on page 7 of the position statement, which states —
There
will be no mandated safety equipment for any vessel in protected waters or
within 400 metres of any shore in unprotected waters.
(2) Can the
Premier explain how this is toughening legislation, given that powered vessels
currently are required to carry a full complement of safety equipment?
(3) How does this enhance safety for
boat users?
1047. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
ill-informed comments yesterday in the house suggesting that the Minister for
Transport —
Mr T. Healy interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Southern River, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms L. METTAM : I refer to the
Premier's ill-informed comments yesterday in the house suggesting that
the Minister for Transport was toughening the requirements for life jackets and
boat safety.
(1) Can the Premier confirm proposal
2 on page 7 of the position statement, which states —
There
will be no mandated safety equipment for any vessel in protected waters or
within 400 metres of any shore in unprotected waters.
(2) Can the
Premier explain how this is toughening legislation, given that powered vessels
currently are required to carry a full complement of safety equipment?
(3) How does this enhance safety for
boat users?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) It
is a consultation paper.
Ms L. Mettam :
It's a position statement.
Mr M. McGOWAN :
It is a position paper?
Ms L. Mettam :
It's a position statement.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : It is a position
statement that is out for consultation. It is out for consultation until 22
November this year. It is not the government's policy. It is out
for consultation.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There have
been 1 700 surveys as part of the consultation. The consultation closes on 22 November.
I think the boating sector is actually putting in a great many submissions
because it is a matter of some considerable —
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Sorry? The
Leader of the Opposition does not ask a question. She never has the courage to
ask a question.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Yes, I do!
Mr M. McGOWAN : You do not.
Ask one! Ask me a question. Up you get.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! We have a matter of public
interest coming up; we have to get on.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I was the
Leader of the Opposition for five and a half years. I know about asking
questions.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There we go.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the first time. Premier, continue.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Ask a question.
It is out there for consultation. I am advised that some of the suggestions
actually toughen the rules. Apparently, life jackets are a contentious issue
among some of the boating community, because if someone is close to shore or in
the canals of Mandurah, for instance, running their boat across the canal, do
they have to wear a life jacket at that point? Those sorts of things are up for
consultation. If someone is in a small dinghy going out to their boat that is
anchored 40 metres off the shore, do they need to wear a life jacket? They are
the sorts of things that are being consulted as part of this, and I think it is
far more reasonable to actually have consultation and listen to people rather
than scaremonger like the Liberal Party is doing. I will probably take some
advice, and I will be corrected if I am wrong, but apparently there is
currently no requirement for wearing a life jacket within a certain distance of
the shore. There is currently no requirement in respect of that. The member is
looking confused and angry, but let me just explain.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Let me
explain to the member about Palm Beach. At Palm Beach a whole bunch of boats
are anchored about 100 metres out.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are
either anchored or tied up to a mooring. Little dinghies come in with people
who come down for a coffee or something on a Saturday morning. I am advised
that they currently do not need to wear a life jacket because it is a short
distance between the two destinations. Is the member saying that they should
have to wear a life jacket in those circumstances? Is that the member's
position?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the member
saying that someone who gets in their boat in the Mandurah estuary and moves it
from one jetty to another should have to wear a life jacket? They are the sorts
of things the boating community is being consulted on. I think that is a fair
thing to do. Hundreds of thousands of Western Australians own boats, and we are
asking them what should happen. I think the scaremongering should stop.
is a consultation paper.
Ms L. Mettam :
It's a position statement.
Mr M. McGOWAN :
It is a position paper?
Ms L. Mettam :
It's a position statement.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : It is a position
statement that is out for consultation. It is out for consultation until 22
November this year. It is not the government's policy. It is out
for consultation.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There have
been 1 700 surveys as part of the consultation. The consultation closes on 22 November.
I think the boating sector is actually putting in a great many submissions
because it is a matter of some considerable —
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Sorry? The
Leader of the Opposition does not ask a question. She never has the courage to
ask a question.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Yes, I do!
Mr M. McGOWAN : You do not.
Ask one! Ask me a question. Up you get.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! We have a matter of public
interest coming up; we have to get on.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I was the
Leader of the Opposition for five and a half years. I know about asking
questions.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There we go.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the first time. Premier, continue.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Ask a question.
It is out there for consultation. I am advised that some of the suggestions
actually toughen the rules. Apparently, life jackets are a contentious issue
among some of the boating community, because if someone is close to shore or in
the canals of Mandurah, for instance, running their boat across the canal, do
they have to wear a life jacket at that point? Those sorts of things are up for
consultation. If someone is in a small dinghy going out to their boat that is
anchored 40 metres off the shore, do they need to wear a life jacket? They are
the sorts of things that are being consulted as part of this, and I think it is
far more reasonable to actually have consultation and listen to people rather
than scaremonger like the Liberal Party is doing. I will probably take some
advice, and I will be corrected if I am wrong, but apparently there is
currently no requirement for wearing a life jacket within a certain distance of
the shore. There is currently no requirement in respect of that. The member is
looking confused and angry, but let me just explain.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Let me
explain to the member about Palm Beach. At Palm Beach a whole bunch of boats
are anchored about 100 metres out.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are
either anchored or tied up to a mooring. Little dinghies come in with people
who come down for a coffee or something on a Saturday morning. I am advised
that they currently do not need to wear a life jacket because it is a short
distance between the two destinations. Is the member saying that they should
have to wear a life jacket in those circumstances? Is that the member's
position?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the member
saying that someone who gets in their boat in the Mandurah estuary and moves it
from one jetty to another should have to wear a life jacket? They are the sorts
of things the boating community is being consulted on. I think that is a fair
thing to do. Hundreds of thousands of Western Australians own boats, and we are
asking them what should happen. I think the scaremongering should stop.
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