NSW car and boat licences combine

NSW Minister for Roads and Freight, Duncan Gay, has announced Australia's first combined car and boat licence. Mr Gay claimed close to half a million boating enthusiasts were set to benefit from the reform. 

"Most people who own a boat licence also have a driver's licence and under the current system each licence has to be renewed separately," Mr Gay said.

"Under this change, a drivers licence holder who also has a boat or personal watercraft licence can have the two combined on one card with one expiry date.

"This will apply to drivers licences issued for car, truck, or motor cycle where the motorist has a boating licence," Mr Gay said.

But what happens to your boat licence if your car licence is cancelled or suspended? Does this mean that if you've lost 12 points on your car licence you can no longer drive your boat, even though you've done nothing wrong on the water?

"Everything else about the combined licence will remain the same, the ID photograph, conditions, the cost of both licences and circumstances under which the licence must be carried or produced," the Department's press release states.

 "The combined licence will be rolled out from December this year, motorists with both licences will be given the option when their driver licence is due for renewal," Mr Gay said.

This combined boating and car licence will reduce trips to renew the various licences some people carry, but the legislation and acts governing motoring and boating activities will remain separate and not linked, we're told.