‘No guarantees’ in Better Boating Fund, BIAV warns
Draft framework for $31m infrastructure fund leaves a door open to government-led raids, boating lobby warnsVictoria’s peak boating lobby has issued a warning after discovering what it claims is a loophole in the proposed framework for a $31 million public boating infrastructure fund that allows the state government to raid it at any time.
The Boating Industry Association of Victoria said yesterday it rejected the Marine Safety Act Amendment (Better Boating Fund) Bill 2020, set up to manage money collected from the state’s boaters, in its current form.
The bill, introduced by Fishing and Boating Minister Melissa Horne a fortnight ago, amends the Marine Safety Act to establish the Better Boating Fund to manage the revenue from boat registration and licensing fees.
The BIAV said the amendment to the bill as it was presented to the Victorian Parliament “does not fully deliver on the core aspect of the 2018 election commitment” that all revenue raised from boating registration and licensing fees would be poured back into boating infrastructure.
Commitments made
BIAV president David Meehan said the government had given both written and verbal commitments that all the money raised – estimated to be as high as $31 million a year – would flow into the fund.
“For over 30 years, successive governments have taken fees from boaters and delivered little in return,” Meehan said.
“Accordingly, Victorian boaters suffer inadequate boating infrastructure that is decades behind other Australian states.
“Without funding for infrastructure such as boat ramps and parking we don’t have boating and we don’t have an industry that employs over 17,000 people”
Meehan said the BIAV commended the government on its support for boating, however, it “must keep its election pledge on funding, as this is the cornerstone of the whole thing”.
No guarantees
BIAV claims the proposed amendment also allows for Parliament and the Treasurer to “decide the value of monies that flow into the Better Boating Fund”.
“There is no mechanism or wording in the actual amendment that guarantees the $31m-plus fees collected from boaters will flow directly into the fund,” Meehan said.
“It establishes a fund, however with no guaranteed funding.
“This is not totally in-line with the firm commitment made by the government, and stakeholders are incredibly angry that the cornerstone of the election commitment package has not been guaranteed.”
The BIAV has asked the Fishing and Boating Minister to raise the funding concerns on behalf of stakeholders including the BIAV.
“It has been requested that critical amendments be made to the bill to ensure it delivers in line with the government’s 2018 pledge,” BIAV said.
The Marine Safety Act Amendment (Better Boating Fund) Bill 2020 is scheduled to have its second reading this week.
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