Ports Minister Tripodi - Progress Report

by TetraMedia update on 31 Jul 2009 NSW Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi is generally regarded as an effective Minister who is delivering for the boating community. Here is his speech from the 2009 Sydney International Boat Show this morning in full.

Since last year’s Sydney International Boat Show, a lot has changed across Australia and the world.

In the past 12 months, world trade circumstances have required governments globally to actively support economies to a level not seen before.

But recent assessments of the Australian economy do offer cautious optimism and whilst the economy is still facing challenges, consumers are spending around 6 per cent more than they did last September and some key boating statistics have shown positive growth and give reason for optimism.

NSW boating figures for example, should be some source of encouragement. There are 222,322 registered boat owners in NSW which is up 2.4 per cent on the previous year; and there are 483,649 powerboat driver licence holders - an increase of more than 7 per cent for the financial year.

Both are good figures for these tough times.

With four more days for this iconic Show to run and close to 200 boats on the marina, and 25,000 square metres of space in the halls sold out, I am hopeful for your industry that most of that stock and inventory out there in the Halls and on the Marina walks out the door.

The NSW Government has been very focused on making up lost ground against the other States when it comes to boating and this has involved us building a stronger and better relationship with your industry.

We have made it very clear, where we think we rest with you, through our Department’s new logo.

NSW Maritime Serving our Boating Community

Safe Waterways and Support for the Maritime Community
Our stakeholder forums in both 2007 and 2008 confirmed the biggest issues for our boating communities are safety, waterfront access and infrastructure.

Strangely enough, one of the things both forums clearly wanted from our Government was more patrolling and law enforcement on the waterways by NSW Maritime.

In response to this and as a clear and comprehensive response to recent boating fatalities on Sydney Harbour, NSW Maritime has doubled its night patrols, and increased its vessels inspections by 20% from 2,830 to 3,406, in the last 12 months

Directly resulting from this, compliance with lighting regulations is now at 98%, while general boating safety compliance is at around 88% across the State.

Communicating safety messages and educating our skippers has also been a priority of the Government.

Maritime’s commitment to the 'You’re the Skipper – You’re Responsible' campaign continues, while focusing on four key safety priorities :

* lifejackets;
* keeping blood alcohol under the 0.05 limit;
* safe navigation; and
* trip preparation and planning.

Partnering has become an important part of how we have improved relations with the boating community and how we have delivered our safety message.

Good results are being achieved through concerted partnerships like the one here at the show today with a Marine Precinct in Hall 5, bringing together 15 partners in safety, including the Boating Industry Association, the Boat Owner’s Association and the Marine Teachers Associations of NSW to name just a few.

The NSW Government fully endorses Doug Olding’s recent statements promoting 'education before regulation.'

Recreational boating is about fun and with a little awareness and good compliance we can avoid draconian rules with punitive penalties.

Of course rules are not always avoidable and when we introduce new rules we do it in a way that minimises the burden and inconvenience to those involved.

A good example of this was the recent introduction of a practical component to the driver licensing system that started on the 1st of June this year.

The practical component of licensing tests completes a major package of changes to boat licensing over recent years.

It raises the bar regarding skipper knowledge and skill, while giving prospective boaters choice and flexibility in how to meet the new requirements.

Making recreational water activity a safe activity will mean boating will continue its envious rate of take-up in NSW, particularly amongst families with kids.

But safety is not only about the boaters.

Workers in the industry also need to be safe in their workplace, which is why today’s launch of a partnership agreement between WorkCover and the BIA NSW is a great example of how government and industry partner to achieve workplace safety.

This Partnership Agreement will involve a series of constructive and open network forums for communication and workplace consultation; and practical, effective approaches to improving safety outcomes for the industry’s workforce.
At last year’s breakfast I detailed the plan of the NSW Government to convince the Commonwealth on the merits of sponsoring better National Standards for Commercial Vessels.

On this point we are getting slow but important progress.

Having state-based commercial boat building design and operating standards will guarantee the boat building industry will rarely grow beyond a cottage industry in this country.

State-based standards keep the resale price of commercial vessels low as these boats cannot trade or be traded across State borders without incurring substantial retrofit and compliance costs.

It is regulatory madness when every State thinks it knows something more than the neighbouring State when it comes safe commercial boat design.

This is especially the case when there are already two international standards existing for us to adopt from.

I can now report the Council of Australian Governments has agreed to implement a single national system for maritime safety.

This will be done by broadening the Commonwealth Navigation Act to apply to all commercial vessels and with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) becoming the national safety regulator for all commercial shipping in Australian waters under the new system.

The transition period for the national system is expected to commence in 2011, with full implementation in 2013.

The proposal has the potential to deliver real benefits to the commercial vessel industry, creating an expanded market for boat builders, simplifying the movement of crew between vessels and the movement of vessels between jurisdictions.

Some of you may be aware one of my roles is to be the Minister for Regulatory Reform.

That is all about keeping red-tape under control.

Today I am launching a pilot scheme to appoint appropriately qualified private surveyors to conduct periodic surveys of houseboats and other low risk Class 4E hire and drive commercial vessels used on smooth waters.

The new arrangements will be implemented in August.

NSW Maritime will continue to conduct all initial survey inspections and periodic survey inspections of all vessels, other than Class 4E vessels.

Appropriately qualified private surveyors will be engaged under a service provider arrangement and there will be no change to survey fees paid by vessel operators as a result of the use of private surveyors.

In addition, issue of qualifications for General Purpose Hands – the entry level position into the industry – can now be done over the counter at our offices around the State.

These are the latest in a series of changes in the administration of commercial vessels and qualifications that will make it easier to do business in NSW.

At both our 2007 and 2008 industry stakeholder meetings, another very strong message to Government was a desire for Improved Infrastructure and Access to our Waterways.

Our commuter wharf upgrade program is now well underway and I am pleased to inform you that the Government through its team at NSW Maritime has been thinking outside the square on these projects by introducing some i

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