Published 17 years ago, updated 6 years ago

According to the latest edition of The Coastal Passage, recent widespread coverage of Australian Customs severe penalties for yachts apparently failing to comply with regulations (reported on Noonsite Australia pages) may be contributing to a change in official attitudes to yachts:

“In an apparent response to coverage from The Coastal Passage and resulting anger from Australians everywhere and international condemnation, a shift has recently taken place in Customs and AQIS as entering yachts report easing of notice protocol and so-called Bio-Fouling examinations and fumigation enforcements. There are still issues to address and some reports are still coming in of excessive searches but the trend as reported by the letters below and numerous contacts with this office suggest a positive outlook. Last years imperatives are this years ‘no worries mate’. A “legislative change” would be an opportunity to correct a plethora of injustices.”

For more information on this read the newest edition of The Coastal Passage at

http://thecoastalpassage.com/papers/tcp30.pdf