Australian Gov't may Licence SCUBA Diving

[Mr T.]

The thin end of the wedge for all divers?


http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.a...5E1702,00.html


Govt may licence scuba diving

22sep05


THE NSW government is considering establishing an annual licence for scuba divers similar to that required by recreational fishers.

Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald today said the scheme would involve the creation of an independent scuba diving trust, made up of industry members, who would allocate licence costs to programs to improve amenities for divers. Mr Macdonald said the trust also could invest funds towards programs to protect the habitat areas of the critically endangered grey nurse shark.

"The state government was previously considering introducing a fee to dive in these areas but the licence system will be simpler and fairer – instead of paying a fee for each dive in the habitat sites, divers will now have an annual fee," Mr Macdonald said.

He said he had recently met senior diving industry representatives, who expressed support for the proposal.

[ahar]

For goodness sake, don't let the UK gov find out about that. It'll start off as a voluntary scheme, with a bit of the cash going to the RNLI. Then it'll be mandatory, and national. There will be a scandal and probably IT breakdown, meaning licences are taking ages to produce, so it'll be devolved to local authorities.

That'll start well, except that one or two will start to put different conditions, so that you'll eventually need a licence for each of the counties that you want to dive off the shore of. The compliance will be low, so they'll employ teams of jobsworth inspectors to drive around checking licences, with one permanently moored on the Kyarra - "licence check before you go down guv".

The local councils will find that it's really expensive, so outsource to local companies. Some will be good, but there will inevitably be the cowboys and it won't be long before we see reports in Diver and on YD of team of roving inspectors, waiting to 'clamp' your regs at the merest hint of leaving them by the steps on Swanage Pier. Stoney will have bribed the local council and you'll need a special permit to dive there, "one dive pass for Stoney Stanton? That'll be £15 guv if you're not a local resident...". Of course, the local tea leaves will be out in drives, waiting to nick unattended passes from cars and kit, selling them at a cut down price on the black market (otherwise know as Ebay).

All this will drive the government potty, and they'll eventually set up OFDIVE (the office of diving regulation), as an adjunct to the HSE.

WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS END ???????

[jptaylor9]

Originally Posted by ahar

WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS END ???????

When they bankrupt the economy & bring about a major recession that wipes out your pension & savings (except MPs')

That'll be next year then....

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by ahar

For goodness sake, don't let the UK gov find out about that. It'll start off as a voluntary scheme, with a bit of the cash going to the RNLI. Then it'll be mandatory, and national. There will be a scandal and probably IT breakdown, meaning licences are taking ages to produce, so it'll be devolved to local authorities.

That'll start well, except that one or two will start to put different conditions, so that you'll eventually need a licence for each of the counties that you want to dive off the shore of. The compliance will be low, so they'll employ teams of jobsworth inspectors to drive around checking licences, with one permanently moored on the Kyarra - "licence check before you go down guv".

The local councils will find that it's really expensive, so outsource to local companies. Some will be good, but there will inevitably be the cowboys and it won't be long before we see reports in Diver and on YD of team of roving inspectors, waiting to 'clamp' your regs at the merest hint of leaving them by the steps on Swanage Pier. Stoney will have bribed the local council and you'll need a special permit to dive there, "one dive pass for Stoney Stanton? That'll be £15 guv if you're not a local resident...". Of course, the local tea leaves will be out in drives, waiting to nick unattended passes from cars and kit, selling them at a cut down price on the black market (otherwise know as Ebay).

All this will drive the government potty, and they'll eventually set up OFDIVE (the office of diving regulation), as an adjunct to the HSE.

WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS END ???????

I see you have experience of government projects

[Scuba1]

And ther will of course be a 95.6 % tax on air

[chrisch]

I have to agree with the above analysis. In principle a small licence fee to cover costs is a good idea. For example Dog licences. Clearing up dogshit costs x there are n dogs x/n=£zz.zz so a dog licence should be £zz.zz*2

Sadly the diving (or dog) licence will be seen by the Daily Mail as "Gordon's stealth tax" or some similar twaddle and the annual amount will be enough to cover bailing out the fishing industry...

The French system is run by the schools (FFESSM) and is €40 a year. If the UK copies that it will be run by BSAC.....

I think the ozzie one should be run by Fosters. The UK one by Sheperds Neame and the licence free if you buy 10 pints of Bishop's Finger...

Chris

[jptaylor9]

Originally Posted by chrisch

The French system is run by the schools (FFESSM) and is €40 a year. If the UK copies that it will be run by BSAC.....

What, make BSAC membership mandatory for ALL UK divers

Now where's that SALT statement...

[vid]

Originally Posted by Scuba1

And ther will of course be a 95.6 % tax on air

what you're expecting some kind of tax rebate - no way - 100% at least

Originally Posted by chrisch

I have to agree with the above analysis. In principle a small licence fee to cover costs is a good idea. For example Dog licences. Clearing up dogshit costs x there are n dogs x/n=£zz.zz so a dog licence should be £zz.zz*2

"in principle" I agree too .....

but in practice, that money never gets to local govt to be used for the purpose for which it was raised

Originally Posted by chrisch

the annual amount will be enough to cover bailing out the fishing industry

.... or any other political problem of the day [cynic mode off]


vid

[ahar]

Originally Posted by dry suit diver

I see you have experience of government projects

Too much to be fully keep hold of my sanity

For example, a government agency that shall remain nameless currently has two independent programmes underway (neither really knows about the other): One to reduce the amount of paper produced, and one to keep it the same but scan it all in and keep a digital copy. As the scanning initiative is merrily thinking about how to scan a type of document, the reduction initiative has just junked it, sending scanning back to square one.

Oh the joys of being a tax payer

[Tank Girl]

Or it could be run by HSE....

Now that would be fun!