Brisbane Boat Show - Opens with great attractions and innovations

by John Daffy on 14 Sep 2014 2014 Brisbane Boat Show - The Brisbane Boat Show has opened with a great public response to the huge range of new boats, engines and equipment being displayed; show innovations including trailer reversing clinics and the opportunity for the public to vote on marine matters they consider important, as well as some clear messages for governments and authorities.

Guest speaker at the opening, current Sunfish Chairman and panel member on the Queensland Fisheries Management Review, Mr David Bateman noted in his address: 'Fisheries surveys in 2000 found 850,000 Queenslanders went fishing – that same survey, just completed, showed participation has now dropped to 650,000 in spite of the population expansion.'

'Other states are having the same experience in spite of a recreational fishing licence supposed to be for enhancing recreational fishing.'

'A change in government thinking towards fishing is essential. Hopefully the current review of the Fisheries Act will achieve this,' Mr Bateman said.

'Encouraging participation through education, enhancement and wise management, rather than through regulation and restriction, is a much better option for all.'

'It could encourage double the spending creating a win-win situation for all suppliers, users and the Government.'

'The Great Barrier Reef, Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay are prime examples of restricting fishing activities through Government actions such as marine park closures and making fishing and boating regulations so complicated, that people are looking over their shoulder whenever they are on the water.'

'This discourages people’s enthusiasm to go fishing and spend.'

'Having attended the current Fisheries Review meetings in southern Queensland - all present complained about the park zonings, lack of meaningful consultation and complex laws.'

'All of these can be fixed by Government with minimal spending if there is a will to do so.'

Marine Queensland President, Matthew Hodson said in his Brisbane Boat Show opening remarks: 'One of the key drivers for this year’s boat show is to offer the boating consumer a greater diversity of marine related experiences including those connected with the tackle industry, cooking and boating equipment, consumer advice and the launch of a new jet ski safety campaign.'

'Another highlight is the introduction of the Keep Australia Fishing Precinct presented by the Australian Fishing Trade Association.'

'The show also has employed the services of professional driver trainers to assist educate and teach people how to reverse a boat trailer confidently, in a non-threatening environment.'

'However, we also need to be very clear that the skill sets on display and the number of proudly Australian made products, are under a tremendous diversity of pressures.'

'Pressures ranging from ill-informed bureaucratic policies where there is an evident disconnect between industry and government and which seems greater than ever, wage disparities, occupational health and safety issues, skill shortages, grey imports and disparities between state regulations.'

'We have local fishing rod manufacturers, locally manufactured boats that lead the world in design and construction, innovative Australian owned and manufactured safety equipment, electronics and trailers, Australian built and globally exported marina concourses, to name but a few.'

'They have major and compounding issues that deserve to be heard, tabled and discussed - we do not want them to go down the road of the Australian car manufacturing fiasco.'

'To assist in building a constructive connect between governments, bureaucrats and our industry association that now represents over 330 leading marine businesses and more than 770,000 boat licence holders in Queensland, we have established polling booths at the show.'

'We are asking show attendees to answer some key questions on a range of topics as well as asking them to specify issues important to them.'

'By working together on issues ranging from direct input into boat ramp improvements, marina leasehold arrangements to allow some certainty to marina operators and owners, licensing via the Boatsafe program and safety initiatives, we can achieve a better connection.'

'Our industry insists on a better way for both industry and decision making bureaucrats to work together to achieve, among other things, more jobs, more skill sharing, greater exports and a stronger industry.'

'Some praise also has to be given to the departments which have been consulting and making new policy in relation to the freshwater impoundments. For example, the opening of Wivenhoe Dam to four stroke and direct injection combustion engines is a very welcome move.'

'Already local communities and industry related businesses are seeing increases in business activity.'

'In the future, we hope that further consultation will see the dam divided into an area with open speed and a half devoted to speeds under six knots to allow the paddler/sailor/angler and or nature observer, to enjoy the spoils the dam has to offer without wash.'

Mr Hodson also noted that Marine Queensland, formerly known as the Boating Industry Association of Queensland, was marking its 40th year promoting boating and representing its members.

'Other milestones being celebrated this year are BLA’s 40th year, Dunbier Trailers 45th year, John Crawford Marine’s 50th year, Cruise Craft’s 68th year. Telwater, builders of the iconic Quintrex brand, is marking its 69th year,' Mr Hodson said.

The Brisbane Boat Show runs until Monday, September 15 at the Brisbane Show grounds, Bowen Hills.