Hansard debates

Debate resumed.

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) — I am really delighted that this bill has come to the Parliament. I want to acknowledge the Minister for Ports for introducing it, because at its heart it has a critical proposition about providing better public safety and clamping down on 12 to 16-year-olds using a jet ski without having a licensed adult with them. I remember this coming up. In the last Parliament I was on the committee that examined this issue, and it was one of those revelations when we actually realised that you can be as young as 12 and effectively be in control of a vehicle that has 350 horsepower. If you made the comparison of would that be allowed if you were on the road on a motorbike, the answer clearly is no. I am delighted to see that this issue has now worked its way through the system.

I recall a contribution that the member for Albert Park made in the last Parliament about a fatality in the St Kilda area. He raised his concerns at that time. It is good to see that the whole process has evolved and that there is bipartisan support for it, because despite significant investment in safety education and the delineation of boating zones, a small group of jet-ski users continue to engage in unsafe conduct that is of significant concern to local communities where jet ski operations are concentrated. This conduct threatens the safety of swimmers and other water users. Of course we want to enjoy beach recreation and we want to make it as safe as it possibly can be. The government is responding to community concerns by investing in a targeted package of compliance, monitoring and enforcement activities.

This bill includes a related measure aimed at reducing injuries to minors and avoiding the loss of life. Minors aged between 12 and 16 who hold restricted licences are currently able to have those licences endorsed so they can operate jet skis, as I outlined in the opening. The available evidence indicates that a disproportionate number of minors are being injured on jet skis when compared with the rate of injury observed in other age groups. This data and anecdotal evidence provided by the water police, Transport Safety Victoria and local waterway managers support the view that there is a genuine safety problem that needs to be addressed.

The bill makes an amendment that prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from having their licence endorsed so they are not able to operate a jet ski without supervision. The supervised operation of jet skis by minors is still possible, so there will continue to be avenues available to minors to learn responsible jet-ski operation, but in effect the bill requires that there is adequate adult supervision at all times. This is expected to reduce observed injury rates and potentially save lives. That is the significant reform within this bill. It goes on to look at a range of other propositions as well. I want to commend the bill to the house on that particular issue.

The Marine Safety Act 2010 imposes duties on a range of different parties to identify risk and implement measures that minimise safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable. The bill also addresses gaps in safety duties and safety requirements that have been identified as a consequence of incidents on state waters in recent years. It applies safety duties to managers of events held wholly or partly on state waters. This will ensure that Transport Safety Victoria has the capacity to act to ensure that risks are minimised.

It is a commonsense bill. It has got better scrutiny. It has got better accountability, and it should deliver better safety, which is really what we all want for anyone who is on the beach and particularly for adolescents who are still learning how to judge safety and take care of themselves. On that basis I commend the bill to the house.

Business interrupted under sessional orders.