In response to community enquiries regarding the allocation of revenue generated through vessel and boat registrations, we sought clarification from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads as to how these funds are used, including whether they are directed towards specific purposes such as maintaining boating infrastructure. The minister has since provided the following information in italics.
Consolidated Fund and departmental allocations
Funds collected from recreational boat registration fees are deposited into the Consolidated Fund. The Queensland Government, through Treasury, then allocates funding to government agencies and departments.
Transport and Main Roads’ Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) branch receives annual allocations from this funding. Maritime Safety Queensland’s funding is divided into:
- base allocation, and
- funding through the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP).
The Boating Infrastructure Program, part of MSQ’s Maritime Infrastructure Investment Program, receives annual allocations for:
- maintenance of statewide boat launching infrastructure, and
- capital expenditure on new or upgraded boating infrastructure.
With several hundred boating infrastructure assets across the state, a large portion of funding has historically been allocated to maintenance of infrastructure.
Occasionally, MSQ also receives one-off or special funding, an example being the government election commitment of $2.5 million for Noosa River boating infrastructure.
Expenditure within regions
There is no direct annual link between revenue collected from recreational boat registration fees and investment in specific regions or areas. Expenditure is prioritised where it is most needed across the state, however MSQ’s expenditure in regions generally aligns with the revenue generated from those regions over time.
It is also important to account for remote areas, which may otherwise wait decades for new boating infrastructure without some form of cross-state rationalisation.
We encourage any constituents with feedback to email our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Further information
For our previous Noosa 360 updates on boating infrastructure, please visit www.sandybolton.com/boating-infrastructure-noosa-river-navigational-aids-update-june-2025/.
Direct advocacy to state government regarding boating infrastructure can be emailed to the Minster for TMR via transportandmainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive.