Chris6791 said..And don't take 'recent developments' as incidents, yeah it could be PilotPete's collision, or simply its someone in DoT that identified a hole in existing legislation and was also looking for an example for a promotion application

. I also know for a fact that there are a number of searches conducted every summer in Perth metro waters for kiters in distress that involve expensive search and volunteer assets, most of which rarely make the news or this forum.
"SLSA is making lifejackets mandatory for lifesavers on rescue boats at surf meets and on patrols from October 2014.
It also says all surf boat rowers and sweeps will have to wear helmets from January 2014.
The changes come after surf lifesaver Matthew Barclay, 14, drowned in March 2012 at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships."
www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/lifesavers-to-wear-helmets-lifejackets/news-story/ef7ee6079be434c3cc206010094b9d6cSeems its happening to other groups as well!