Cameron Thompson (Blair, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The mischievous member over there is making allegations that he knows nothing about. A new section of the legislation creates an offence for both master and owner of a regulated ship that operates without a pilot in a compulsory pilotage area. Compulsory pilotage will only be imposed in areas that are hazardous to navigation. These areas are often of significant environmental value. Compulsory pilotage reduces the possibility of an accident but also aims to prevent pollution occurring in the case of an accident. The penalty for an offence under this section is set at the same level as offences under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act. The legislation also increases penalties to a level where they are an effective deterrent for failure to produce certificates or documents or failing to comply with the requirement of the Maritime Safety Authority to take a ship into dock. The legislation is aimed at decreasing the economic advantage in running a substandard or unseaworthy ship. Defects on these vessels—

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