Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Water safety

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (19:06): (493) I rise, regrettably, today to address an issue I have mentioned many times in this place. The action I seek is from the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, and it is an immediate process of regulatory reform around jet ski usage. Unfortunately my previous representations have gone unanswered by the government’s minister, and just last week there was a near fatality in my electorate involving a belligerent jet skier nearly colliding with a local constituent. I think now is the time for action. On 3 February, last Saturday, a local constituent from Rye was swimming at the popular McCrae Beach –

A member: That’s right near your office.

Sam GROTH: it used to be – when he observed a jet ski travelling at speed from the shoreline in a dangerous and careless manner. In a dramatic turn, the jet ski passed less than 2 metres from my constituent there in the water, and if you think about 2 metres, that is not far at all when you think about the size of these craft and speed that these craft now go at.

We cannot risk having a death on our hands and waiting for a death to occur before we actually start to take action on some of these jet skis – and I do note that the Minister for Police is at the table. I note the Age reported that this summer alone police have issued more than 200 infringement notices to jet ski riders for committing offences on the water. They are out doing that, but it is not stopping these offences occurring and the behaviour that goes with them. Over 200 is a startling number, one that we should all probably admit is far too high and reflects an environment where safety seems to take a back seat.

As I said, these jet skis – now, I am not that old, but I am sure many of us have ridden a jet ski at some time – are not the craft that they used to be. They are not the 60-horsepower things that zip around; they are now 300 horsepower, some of them. They are literally a sports car on water, and these are used in family-friendly areas. They are disruptive. I note water police squad Acting Inspector Lynden Blackley told the Age police were seeing an uptick in jet ski related accidents in regional waterways, including head injuries, broken legs and dislocations. Acting Inspector Blackley also said it is:

… no secret that jet-skis have become more and more prevalent on our waterways …

I am very lucky to call a coastal area home and to represent it here, but many members in this chamber would have spent time in a coastal area or close to water during their break.

There is more that needs to be done. We need to have a serious discussion about personal watercraft and the danger that they are causing, how they need to be regulated and whether they need to be separated by legislation away from boat users, but it should not take someone being seriously injured or a death occurring before we start to take action and do something about these jet skis.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Could I just ask the member for Nepean: can you clarify the action for the minister?

Sam GROTH: The action I seek is for the Minister for Outdoor Recreation to start an immediate process of regulatory reform around jet ski usage.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.