Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Legal Affairs and Safety Committee
Focused on the Marine Rescue Queensland Bill, strongly supporting the reforms which will provide better coordination and state resources for marine rescue services, eliminating the need for volunteers to spend time fundraising.
“I welcome the work these reforms will deliver and the opportunity they have to provide a greater level of coordination to the vital and important services that are represented by the Marine Rescue Queensland Bill.”— 2024-05-01View Hansard
Strongly supported the Marine Rescue Queensland Bill, highlighting it will bring VMR and coastguard together to provide better safety for Queenslanders and provide surety around vessel maintenance and funding.
“No longer will volunteers have to go out and rattle the tin. No more will they have to call me and say, 'Can you help us raise funds? Can you buy our life jackets for us?' We as a government are supporting them.”— 2024-05-01View Hansard
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill creates Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), a unified statewide marine rescue service to replace the current fragmented system of two separate volunteer organisations. MRQ will operate under Queensland Police oversight with a clear command structure from state to local level, providing coordinated marine search and rescue, assistance, and disaster response support across Queensland's waterways.
Who it affects
Marine rescue volunteers will transition to the new MRQ structure with standardised training and guaranteed insurance. Boaters and recreational water users will receive more coordinated rescue services, while coastal communities may see changes to local marine rescue coverage.
Key changes
- Establishes Marine Rescue Queensland as a unified statewide marine rescue service under Queensland Police Service oversight
- Creates a three-tier command structure: MRQ chief officer (state), MRQ coordinators (regional), and MRQ unit commanders (local)
- Requires the Commissioner to insure all MRQ volunteers through WorkCover or another insurer
- Grants MRQ members power to enter places without warrant in dangerous situations and use reasonable force on property
- Creates offences for assaulting MRQ members (up to 6 months imprisonment), impersonation, and misuse of confidential information (up to 2 years imprisonment)
- Provides $578 million over 5 years and $27 million ongoing annually to support MRQ