Have your say on boating safety

The Department of Transport is inviting community members to provide feedback on the Recreational Vessel Safety Equipment Review Position Paper, which has been developed in collaboration with boating industry representatives and contains new proposals for boating safety requirements.

It has been more than 25 years since the last safety equipment review for recreational vessels in Western Australia, with the new reforms designed to make things easier for skippers and to save lives on the water. There are 12 proposals, including the compulsory wearing of lifejackets for children.

The review is in response to changing technology, vessel types and water-based activities over the years. The proposed changes will require all vessels operating more than 400m offshore in unprotected waters to carry a lifejacket for each person on board. In addition, each person on board a vessel more than 4.8m will be required to wear a lifejacket. 

You can read the full position paper and complete the Department of Transport's survey on their website. To participate in the survey* and provide your feedback, click the link below.

*Survey closes 22 November 2019.

Wearing a lifejacket doubles a person change of survival once immersed in water. Putting on a lifejacket once in the water is challenging, therefore changing legislation to require boaters and their passengers to wear lifejackets on board can save lives. States around Australia who have already introduced the mandatory wearing of lifejackets have seen reductions in the number of boating fatalities since first enforced.

To upgrade your old lifejacket for a new one that meets the proposed standards, please click the link below to see when an Old4New event is happening near you!