New Lifejacket Regulations in Queensland: Ensuring Safety on the Water
Starting December 1, 2024, new lifejacket regulations will take effect to increase maritime safety. You must understand and abide by these changes to stay safe and compliant on the water.
We will be focusing on education, with enforcement delayed until 1 July 2025, to ensure all boaties are aware of the change. Further communication and on-water education will be provided to support the roll out.
Mandatory Wearing of Lifejackets
What's Changing?
To increase water safety, new regulations will make wearing a lifejacket mandatory when:
- boating alone or only with children under 12 years on an open boat less than 4.8m in length whilst underway
- crossing designated coastal bars on an open ship and on an open area of a boat of any length and on certain craft
- children one year or more and under 12 years are on an open boat or an open area of a boat of any length whilst underway
- night time boating, between sunset and sunrise on an open boat less than 4.8m in length whilst underway
These rules apply to a wide range of boats and crafts, including small sailboats, pedal boats, rafts (including inflatables), rowboats (except Club Surfboats by Surf Life Saving Australia), and sea/surf kayaks.
Note: crafts like body boards and stand-up paddle boards do not count as ‘craft’ under these regulations.
Review the new lifejacket laws that start from 1 December 2024.
Why the Change?
The law is changing in the interest of public safety, to ensure you, your passengers and loved ones get home safely.
In the last 5 years, there were 64 boating fatalities in Queensland, and only 5 were known to be wearing their lifejacket at the time of the incident. Data shows that the people who are at the highest risk of drowning at sea include children and those boating alone or at night, or when crossing coastal bars.
This law change will also bring Queensland in line with the safety standards of other states.
Communicating and Enforcing New Lifejacket Laws
We will actively communicate and enforce the new lifejacket regulations with an effective strategy tailored to reach all community members.
Our communication strategy
We actively inform industry stakeholders about the changes and consistently spread information to the public. You can access current updates and vital safety guidelines through our digital channels. Our goal is to ensure that every member of the boating community is well-informed about the new requirements to enhance safety on the water.
Education and outreach efforts
Our Marine Officers and Enforcement Officers, along with our compliance partners, are dedicated to educating boat owners and users about the impending law changes. We provide this educational support both on and off the water. These efforts extend to actual intercept situations, where we prioritise real-time education to promote compliance and understanding.
Law enforcement and education after 1 December 2024
Starting from 1 December 2024, we will boost public education initiatives to deepen the community's understanding of the lifejacket law's importance. We offer thorough guidance and assistance through our Marine Officers, the Maritime Enforcement Team, and digital channels.
Our approach emphasises awareness first, paving the way for smooth adaptation to the new laws.
Following this educational phase, we will initiate the enforcement of compliance. Individual non-compliance, after ample education, will lead to fines as per the regulatory framework.
Community and Industry Feedback
In 2022, we actively sought community and industry input on proposed lifejacket law revisions through comprehensive public surveys and constructive discussions with key stakeholders. Your valuable feedback has shaped the legislation, reinforcing our mandate for compulsory lifejacket use to safeguard Queensland's waterways.
Education is the cornerstone of our efforts, ensuring that every individual using our waterways understands the vital importance of these regulatory updates. Fines will be introduced as a final recourse to guarantee compliance, but only after extensive educational initiatives have been employed.
Stay informed on these pivotal changes to maintain compliance and enhance your safety while boating. Engage with ongoing educational resources provided by us and ensure that you're fully prepared for these regulations when they come into effect.