Australian Divers need your help

[My-way]

It seems that our never ending State Governments in Australia have taken another step to further tax our lives. A discussion paper is here:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/r...cuba_diving_fee

It is proposed by the State Government of New South Wales ("NSW") to introduce a compulsory (yeary or pro rata ) fee to just dive, not even in particular National or Marine Parks. There are a number of options to this fees. However, diver themselves are being singled out as a group, presumably because they are a small (in absolute numbers) and policially small group, to start this kind of general use fee for hitherto un taxed activities.

The most worrying element is a general diving fee that all divers in NSW must pay to go to their local pier, or break water, or point...!

I hope that if this gets some internation exposure, the NSW Government would see that this is illogical and naieve as a way to achive the aims which the stated fee (TAX) is sought to address.

In particular, the stated aim of protection of threatened species. The grey nurse shark etc. It was my view that

If you feel that this kind of tax is inappropriate, pleas tax a couple of minutes to post you views on this submissions page:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries...diving_fee_form

Any submissions to this end would be greatly appreciated from as many international people as possible.

If it gets up in NSW it will serve as a role model for other jurisdictions and it may happen in your State.

Cheers, and happy diving whilst you still can.

Andy.

 

[DiverDebbie]

I was curious about this, as it affects not only local divers, but tourists as well. However when I tried to check it out I discovered the link wasn't working.
Try this:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/resources/majorpubs/other/pages/scuba_diving_fee
At first glance at the response form it appears this was intended only for Australians, but the drop down does have an "International" choice for any non-Aussies interested in responding.