What’s happening?
Boaties across the Gladstone region, including Rockhampton, are being urged to slow down, keep a proper lookout, and wear their lifejackets as Queensland enters the warmer months.
The Queensland Government has launched a six-month compliance campaign through Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) to curb unsafe behaviour on the state’s waterways. The campaign will focus on personal watercraft (PWC) riders, identified as frequent offenders, and ensure skippers comply with speed and lifejacket regulations.
Why it matters
According to MSQ, 28 per cent of PWC and more than 8 per cent of motorboats intercepted between 2022 and 2025 statewide were caught speeding. In the Gladstone region, including Rockhampton, 7 per cent of PWC riders were caught speeding, compared with just over 2 per cent of motorboats.
Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Kell Dillon said the message to boaties was simple. “Slow down, keep a proper lookout and make sure you and your passengers are complying with lifejacket rules,” he said.
“With our waterways at their busiest during the holidays, there is no room for complacency — skippers and personal watercraft riders must take safety seriously to avoid tragic outcomes.”
By the Numbers:
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7% of PWC riders in the Gladstone region were caught speeding.
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2% of motorboats in the region exceeded speed limits.
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28% of PWC statewide were caught speeding between 2022 and 2025.
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$333 is the starting fine for speeding on the water.
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6 knots is the speed limit within 60 metres of people, shorelines, pontoons, and anchored vessels.
Zoom In
MSQ’s Maritime Enforcement Team will be active across Central Queensland, reminding boaties and jet ski riders to ‘cool your jets’. Patrols will focus on compliance checks for speed and lifejacket use, with officers enforcing existing laws to ensure safety.
Mr Dillon said the figures were concerning for Queensland’s maritime regulator. “Too often we are seeing jet skis and tinnies weaving through busy waterways at high speed, putting families, children, paddlers and other boaties at risk,” he said. “This kind of behaviour is dangerous, deliberate and unacceptable. If you put others at risk, expect an on-the-spot fine.”
Zoom Out
The compliance campaign will run for six months across Queensland, supported by the new lifejacket laws introduced in December 2024, which require lifejackets to be worn in certain high-risk situations.
“The new laws save lives,” Mr Dillon said. “It’s important that every skipper brushes up on the lifejacket laws and complies.”
Local Impact
For the Gladstone and Rockhampton region, where boating and fishing are key parts of community life, the increased patrols will help promote safer habits and reduce incidents on local waterways. The campaign will ensure that boaties in the area understand and follow safety regulations, protecting both locals and visitors.
What to look for next
MSQ will continue its enforcement patrols through summer and into early 2026. Boaties can visit www.msq.qld.gov.au for full details on speed and lifejacket requirements.
