Authorities are cracking down on reckless jet-ski behaviour, launching an unprecedented blitz that could see more speed-detecting cameras hit the water, stricter age limits imposed, and tougher licensing and training rules introduced for riders.
In New South Wales, officials have dealt with a rising number of incidents in recent months that have led NSW Maritime — a division of Transport for NSW (TfNSW) — to consider drastic action.
In July, a 15-year-old died after a jet ski accident in southern Sydney. In mid-October, a 17-year-old boy on a jet ski allegedly led police on a high-speed, 10-minute-long chase around Botany Bay, which led to his eventual arrest and watercraft confiscation.
Two days later, a further two jet skis were impounded after a collision involving four people in the same area. One required hospital treatment as a result.
Sydney’s south remains a hotspot for dangerous personal watercraft (PWC) activity, and despite the presence of a speed-detecting camera at Brighton Le Sands, officials say the issue persists.
Since the start of October, NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers have carried out vessel checks on more than 1,700 jet skis across the state. Those inspections resulted in 119 fines and 165 official cautions. Of them, 32 per cent were for speeding, 21 per cent for licence or registration breaches and 20 per cent for irregular riding infringements.
Multiple police vessels were deployed, and the teen was eventually arrested. Source: TikTok/thelanddownunder
Southern Sydney overrepresented in NSW jet-ski offences
TfNSW said southern Sydney remains significantly overrepresented in PWC offences across the entire state. The Georges River accounts for 32 per cent of them, followed by 16 per cent in Botany Bay and 14 per cent in Port Hacking, equating to nearly 62 per cent of offences across NSW.
A TfNSW spokesperson explained that the department is exploring how to broaden its enforcement capabilities, including potentially installing more cameras, which may require a change to the curent legislation.
“NSW Maritime is currently investigating the requirements for camera detection enforcement on NSW waterways,” the spokesperson said. “Current regulations and privacy laws will be examined. Additionally, current technologies will be assessed in the marine environment to ensure their effectiveness.
“TfNSW will also conduct consultation on increasing the minimum age to obtain a PWC licence to 16 years old, as well as a range of other PWC safety reforms as part of the Marine Safety Regulation remake, which is expected in early 2026.”
What changes are being proposed?
Proposed changes include extending the current restrictions for drivers under 16 years old to also include those aged 16-18 years old. Requiring owners to ensure drivers of their PWC are licensed and introducing practical training and experience requirements to improve the skills and judgment capability of new drivers.
NSW Maritime Acting Executive Director, Darren Wood, warned that in the last three decades, jet skis have “tripled in size”. He said laws should be adjusted to reflect the increased risk of driving them.
“They’re three times heavier and three times faster than what they’ve ever been,” he said at a press conference in October.
“They’re like a high-powered motorbike on the water, so we need to be very conscious of the damage that they can cause if they’re handled incorrectly… and used in areas of high density and where people are swimming.”
In July, a 15-year-old was killed in a jet-ski accident in South Sydney. Source: TikTok/thelanddownunder
‘Motorbikes on water’ a threat to swimmers
NSW Police Marine Area Command Acting Superintendent, Siobhan Munro, labelled jet skis ‘motorbikes on water’.
“They are high-powered, they operate very fast,” she told media. “A young person on a jet ski … they don’t have an L plate on the back like you do on a car, but they can go as fast as a car. So it’s a very dangerous craft to be handling.”
Over the past year, the TfNSW spokesperson revealed that officers had conducted around 45,000 vessel safety checks, leading to nearly 1,950 fines and over 5,200 cautions.
During the pre-season Operation Check the Decks, nearly 1,650 safety checks were carried out, with over 7,200 people engaged, resulting in 62 fines and 141 cautions.
In addition to the harm that can be caused to drivers and passengers, jet skis can also pose a significant danger to swimmers.
As the weather heats up and more people head to the water to cool off, the risk of collisions increases, particularly in busy swimming areas. Jet skis, with their high speeds and limited maneuverability in crowded zones, can easily endanger those enjoying the water.
Swimmers, who are often more vulnerable due to their limited visibility and slower movement, may not have enough time to react to the sudden presence of a jet ski.
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