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Loud,
Proud and Staying FREE |
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The Coastal Passage has
recieved more angry letters about recent MSQ policies than printed
page space permitted so here is a sample of those... |
Dear Editor,
I have attached a small JPG showing the unfair registration increases
and charges inflicted on recreational boat owners in Queensland.
They vary from $18.11 per metre to $38.29 per metre, but not
relative to length. The government web site states that the increases
were necessary to give us more boat ramps, dredge channels and
more nav aids. I cant use a boat ramp with my boat and I believe
that there are actually less
nav aids in my area as for dredging, where.
According to my local member, Steve Wettenhall, boats under 4.5
metres (65% of boats registered in QLD) are actually paying less
registration than they were in 1997, while registrations have
outstripped population growth. According to my calculations that
means that 37% of us boat owners are paying the major cost of
what ever boating infrastructure that the Bligh Government claims
to be giving us.
When you add this to the rediculous 15 metre insurance for salvage
and cleanup ruling no one will want to come boating in Queensland,
let alone be able to afford to go recreational boating in Queensland.
This will eventually impact on Boating Tourism, both Australian
and International , White Boat Repair Industry and all boating
related sales and service industries including Marinas, Slipways
etc causing loss of jobs.
I have emailed my local member, the Department of Transport and
the Minister for Transport and none have explained the great
differences in the cost of registration on a per metre basis,
they just fob me off
with the standard answer that the increase is for infrastructure.
Perhaps your magazine could ask the question, they might answer
the question if asked by the press.
It would appear to me that the Bligh leadership style, both now
and in the past (Captain Bligh) has been the cause of mutinous
behaviour by people on boats.
Queensland the Smart State, I dont think so.
Don Cortis
SV Loose Goose IV |
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TCP note... included corspondance
with government and charts and more that are difficult to post
on am html page so to view attached material... click
here for corospondance and click
here for the graphic. |
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