ibv policy 22july

8/13/2019 IBV Policy 22July

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Policy Platform of the Boating Industries Alliance Australia


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Why is Recreational Boating Important?

CULTURALLY Australians have a natural affinity with the water and

boating. Our population is clustered around ourcoastline and inland waterways and boating in someform touches almost all Australians

Boating creates immersion in the natural environmentand engenders responsibility and respect for ourcountry and our environment

Sailing is one of Australias most successful (and costeffective per medal achieved) Olympic sports and is

highly recognised as a source of national pride andinterest

ECONOMICALLY

The Boating Industry contributes $8bn annually tothe Australian Economy, with in excess of $1bn eachyear in export business

The Boating Industry consists of over 2,500businesses, directly employing 27,000 Australiansaround the nation in a range of roles in all capitalcities and across regional Australia

Recreational Boating contributes significantly todomestic tourism, leisure and recreational spending,creating significant new employment opportunitiesand enhancing local communities

SOCIALLY

There are 850,000 registered boats in Australia andinnumerable small craft and paddlecraft that dontrequire registration. Over 1 Million people haveboat licences and an estimated 5 Million people goboating in Australia each year making it one of the

most popular forms of recreation in the country Boating is socially engaging and brings together

friends and family in a healthy outdoor lifestyle

Boating is diverse and egalitarian. There is a boatto suit everyones needs regardless of age, wealthor ability. From kayaks, sailing dinghies and tinniesto racing yachts, luxury cruisers and everything inbetween, boating is accessible to all Australians

The Boating Industry, including marinas and exportprogrammes, provides career opportunities acrossAustralia and is accessible via boating educationprogrammes within schools and in centres of higherlearning

POLITICALLY Boating is a recreational pastime enjoyed by millions

of Australians from diverse geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. Boaters are passionateabout their lifestyle but have not taken advocacypathways to address their concerns and erosion oftheir rights, access and facilities that support theirrecreation

Boating regulation, access and infrastructure iscovered by Federal, State and Local governmentregulators and budget decisions. Within each

constituency there are a significant number ofvoters with boating interests that will be affected bycandidate policies that affect their lifestyle

Inland waterways, estuaries and coastal cruisinggrounds have been a political battleground asenvironment groups seek to leverage governmentsto shut down areas from human access. Thesedecisions can be politically motivated without scienceor evidence basis, and can lead to poorer outcomesfor the environment with lack of stewardship.Mobilisation of recreational boating interests can tip

the balance of political influence.

The I Boat & I Vote campaign provides theopportunity for political parties and candidates todemonstrate their support for those who participatein the many forms of boating lifestyle.

Policy Platform of the Boating Industries Alliance Australia


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THE POLICY PILLARS OF I BOAT AND I VOTE

1. BOATING SAFETY AND EDUCATION 1.1 Education in preference to Regulation. Boating safety

education should start in schools and continuethroughout all stages of life via community programmes

1.2 Use positive messages to promote safety, encourage

all boaters to be prepared for, understand and safely

manage risks

1.3 Develop programs to make wearing of lifejackets

a voluntary but natural part of going boating, with

reinforcement of messages via education initiatives and

recreational boating ambassadors, with cognisance of

demographics

1.4 Implement regulation only where statistical evidence

clearly identifies a problem and where educationalstrategies have been exhausted.

1.5 Establish a national fund for the maintenance dredging

of coastal bars and channels to provide safe access to

coastal boating havens

2. ACCESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 2.1 Recognise recreational boaters as partners in the

management of waterways and promote access to all

coastal and inland waterways

2.2 Marine Reserve and Marine Park determinations to be

objectively science based and not to arbitrarily restrictaccess for recreational boaters and fishers

2.3 Provide Federal, State and Local Government funding

(as applicable) for investment in the provision and

maintenance of boat ramps; with parking, jetties and

floating pontoons in concert with on-shore facilities to

create boating destinations, including visitor moorings

3. REGULATORY REFORM 3.1 Deliver consistency of recreational boating and boating

industry regulation via national harmonisation of boating

regulation and administration including: National boater licensing, recognising tourism

impacts

National vessel register, to include HIN and ABP

registers

National recreational vessel and boat road trailer

standards, recognising international industry best

practice and global standards

National enforcement of standards via education

and inspections to include all imported vessels and

trailers

3.2 Engage with industry and developers to rationalisemarine planning processes to encourage and facilitate

private investment in boating infrastructure

4. INDUSTRY AND BOATER COMMUNITY SUPPORT 4.1 Provide funding and secretariat for the establishment

and operation of a Recreational Safe Boating Ministerial

Advisory Council charged with the responsibility of

tracking progress against these policy outcomes

4.2 Provide funding for the annual collection and analysis of

statistics relating to boating safety and incidents, boat

registrations, boat storage and movements, marinas,

boat imports and exports, local manufacturing and

boater behaviour, including economic activity with regard

to tourism spend

4.3 Provide regulatory and enforcement support toensure consistency with regulations as they apply to

imported vessels and their associated equipment (both

commercially and privately) to ensure compliance with

recognised standards and environmental regulations

4.4 Provide funding, via boat registration mechanism, for

industry and boater education and support with regard

to vessel and trailer compliance and ongoing safety

inspection

4.5 Provide R&D grants and supporting financial measures

to promote innovation and development of the

manufacturing of boats and components in Australia 4.6 Provide funding for national boating and watersports

education and safety awareness within schools and via

community programs


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FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

NATIONAL BOATING AND WATERSPORTSSAFETY AND EDUCATION

Government funding to engage all levels of education

and community awareness programmes to be delivered

locally based on a national campaign with focus on

safety and environmental enhancement, education and

boating opportunities promotion. To provide initial boating

experience and instruction for all year 3-10 students with

access to water-based activities and inflatable lifejackets asa key part of the curriculum

Budget: $30 Million per annum

RECREATIONAL SAFE BOATING MINISTERIALADVISORY COUNCIL

Funding to support new National Government ofce with

focus on waterways and boating, as distinct from transport,

infrastructure, environment with Parliamentary Secretary

and necessary support staff, to facilitate constitution and

management of Ministerial Advisory Council, with resources

to hold 4 meetings per year and relevant follow-up activities

Budget: $100K per annum

VESSEL REGULATORY AND STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT

Active support of State and Federal maritime agencies and

other agencies charged with product inspection, to include

Customs and Worksafe initiatives. Budget includes, human

resource requirement for dedicated team in each major port

and within maritime safety education units


ACCESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Active and ongoing assessment of access and infrastructure

requirements with requirement to fund safety improvement

works as priority within 6 months of identification and general

maintenance activities as required and within 12 months of

identification. Funding derived from boater facilities levy

contributions to be triple matched by State Governments

over period of 10 years to ensure upgrade to all existing

facilities and development of new facilities to matchexpectations and requirements of 5 million active boaters


INDUSTRY AND BOATER ANNUALSTATISTICS PROGRAM

To deliver annual, year-on-year industry and boater data, to

support decision making regarding industry and government

investment, assessment of effectiveness of safety education

programmes and to identify areas for further support and

improvement within the community

Budget: $500,000 per annum

INDUSTRY R&D SUPPORT

Industry-wide, dedicated R&D grant funding targeted at micro

businesses/SMEs based on easy-to-apply principles that

will provide for good levels of engagement of businesses,

with eventual move onto tax credit-style on-going product

development and manufacture funding support.


The Government funding requirements toimplement these policies are minimal compared

to the benefits to the Australian population.

Marine House,300 Morphett St, Adelaide, SA 5000

Ph: (08) 8212 6207

E: [email protected]

www.biaa.com.au

ibv policy 22july

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