NT Government scraps plans to introduce blood alcohol limits for boat skippers

FISHOS who don’t mind sinking a few tinnies on the water rejoice – the Government has bowed to pressure and scrapped a plan to introduce blood alcohol limits for skippers

Shaun Blowers is pleased the government has backflipped on introducing blood alcohol limits on boat skippers. Picture: Glenn Campbell

• NT boat drivers to be hit with .05 limit
• NEW NT drinking laws will stretch cops ‘even thinner’
• GOVERNMENT backs away from unpopular alcohol limits for NT skippers

FISHOS who don’t mind sinking a few tinnies on the water rejoice – the Government has bowed to pressure and scrapped a plan to introduce blood alcohol limits for skippers.

The Riley review recommended skippers be subject to the same drink driving laws as motorists.

But that was met with outrage from recreational fishos and the powerful lobby group the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the NT.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said the Labor Government would “defer” the push to introduce drink boating laws.

That “deferral” is indefinite.

Humpty Doo resident and beer enthusiast Shaun Blowers welcomed the backdown.

Mr Blowers, whose preferred tipple is Great Northern cans, appreciates drink boating so much he christened his vessel the Grog Monster.

“It depends on who is on the boat. If I’ve got the kids on, I won’t drink, but if I’ve just got the boys then definitely,” he said.

He said most Territorians could be trusted to drink boat responsibly.

“I think it’s good as long as everyone behaves themselves there should be no issue.

“It’s good to hear there’s some common sense.

“There hasn’t been too many injuries and deaths on the water – everyone seems to behave.”

AFANT chief executive David Ciaravolo said the Government had bigger fish to fry and laws relating to boating should not be mixed in with laws to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.

“We never thought it was appropriate to roll conditions of boating safety into laws around alcohol-fuelled violence in the community,” Mr Ciaravolo said.

NT News tablet art

CLICK HERE for full details on our tablet offer above

He acknowledged the need to review safety measures but would not accept the need to introduce drink driving laws for skippers.

“I think it’s always important for us to be assessing safety. We want to make sure when families go out fishing they return safe and sound,” he said.

“Some of the conditions and rules that we have in the NT are quite different to other jurisdictions.

“It’s really important to make sure that whatever systems we have in place are fit for purpose.”

Mr Ciaravolo said the onus was on the people on the boat to ensure they were being safe.

Ms Fyles also confirmed there were no plans to introduce boat registration or licensing schemes in the Northern Territory.