World
15:02, 31-Dec-2017
Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull fined AU$250 for not wearing lifejacket on Sydney Harbor
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At the end of 2017, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull learned a lesson on water safety. Because he didn't wear a lifejacket while steering his inflatable dinghy outside his waterfront mansion on Sydney Harbor, Mr Turnbull has copped a 250 Australian dollars fine.
According to The Guardian, the prime minister, who was photographed by the Australian newspaper on Wednesday, was wearing a red rashvest but no lifejacket, which is a breach of New South Wales maritime regulations.
On Thursday, Turnbull explained himself on Facebook, claiming he was only moving the dingy about 20 meters from the jetty to the beach when the photograph was taken.
Turnbull realized his poor judgment, which led him to break the law, when given the response that he was in the boat alone and was therefore required to wear a lifejacket at all times.
Although “the rules can often seem very technical, they are there to keep us safe and we should all comply with them”, he wrote.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services investigated the incident and on Friday delivered a 250 Australian dollars fine. Angus Mitchell, executive director of NSW Maritime, said the incident was a “timely reminder” of water safety, especially during the holiday season.
A spokesman for Malcolm Turnbull said the Prime Minister would pay the 250 Australian dollars fine as soon as it was received on Friday afternoon.
Malcolm Turnbull is the 29th prime minister of Australia, and has been in office since September 2015.