Maritime Safety Queensland to introduce new lifejacket laws in December
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is urging boaters to wear their lifejackets more often these summer school holidays. From December 1, 2024, lifejackets will be mandatory in high-risk situations.
MSQ said high-risk situations include the following:
Crossing coastal bars on specific vessels
Boating alone or at night
For all children on open vessels under 4.8 metres in length
For children aged one year but less than 12 years in an open boat or an open area of a boat of any length while underway
Introduced after extensive consultation, these laws will apply statewide, aiming to reduce boating fatalities caused by drownings and falls overboard.
In the past five years, there have been 64 boating fatalities in Queensland, with only five of those individuals known to have been wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident.
To ensure everyone understands the importance of these changes, MSQ officers will focus on on-water education and provide a period of grace until July 1, 2025 for boaties to become fully compliant with the new laws.
MSQ's Summer Boating Safety Campaign will meanwhile target speeding boaties and personal watercraft riders, addressing one of Queensland’s "Fatal Five" boating behaviours.
The campaign, running from December 14, 2024 to February 2, 2025, comes as waterways become busier during the holiday season, increasing risks. Boaties are encouraged to stay informed, prioritise safety, and enjoy Queensland’s waterways responsibly this summer.
