We like to laugh a lot here at PEDESTRIAN.TV, but there’s one thing we take very, very seriously: maritime safety – if we had a motto, it would be “One hand for the boat“. You might think it’s somehow ‘funny’ or ‘amusing’ that the prime minister of Australia might be copping a fine for hooning about in his little dinghy in his little rash vest without a lifejacket on, but we’re just glad to see that the maritime law enforcement of this country is treating their job with the seriousness it deserves.
Our aquatic ne’er-do-well of a national leader was papped having a faff about in the waters near his Point Piper estate in an inflatable and came under the watchful eye of the authorities after the pictures were published in The Australian.
Unfortunately, we don’t have the rights to use the image, so please refer to this artist’s interpretation we have prepared:
Pictured: No life jacket, no respect for the sea. For shame!
According to The Oz, Roads and Maritime Services is investigating the matter after “photographic evidence of a person not wearing a lifejacket in a vessel on Sydney Harbour” was brought to their attention, indicating that the individual in question (it’s the PM, we’re talking about the PM) could face a $250 fine.
The PM is pleading ignorance, claiming a lack of knowledge of the laws of the waters he purportedly governs:
I was moving the dinghy from a wharf onto a beach, the distance travelled was about 20m and at any time less than 10m from the shore. Having now spoken with NSW Maritime, I was advised that under the regulations, because I was unaccompanied, I needed to wear a lifejacket despite being so close to the shore and in enclosed waters. . .I take great care to practise and promote water safety, wearing a lifejacket when kayaking for example.
Nice humblebrag about your kayak, mate.
As always, we remain steadfastly committed to observing the laws of the sea and demand that Turnbull prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as a lesson to those who would boat so recklessly.
