Boaties told water safety is no laughing matter as checks reveal poor life jacket record

Tasmanian boaties have been accused of being lazy when it comes to making sure their life jackets are of safe quality. SEE THE VIDEO

TASMANIAN boaties are being lazy when it comes to making sure their life jackets are of safe quality, according to the state’s marine authority.

Safety checks this month on more than 50 boats at Bicheno, Boomer Bay and Dodges Ferry by Marine and Safety Tasmania found only one life jacket had been serviced since its purchase.

After recent inspections to a number of boat users’ life jackets, MAST chief executive Lisa Morris urged Tasmanians to have their life jackets serviced, saying it could be a matter of life or death.

“It’s not a life jacket if it’s not going to work,” she said. “The inflatable life jackets inspected were nothing more than a coat.

“The indifference of boaties is unbelievable. The lack of understanding about the consequences is just astonishing. The general reaction was: ‘It won’t happen to me. I can swim to shore’.”

Julie Gathercole jumps into the water during a demonstration from Marine And Safety Tasmania about dodgy life jackets. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Tasmania marine police constable Ashley Kent said life jackets would be a focus for police this summer.

“We’ll be conducting patrols as part of our investigative checks to ensure life jackets are in a serviceable state,” he said.

Julie Gathercole after successfully demonstrating that her life jacket works. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN