Australian Prime Minister Fined For Not Wearing A PFD

It’s a good practice to wear a life jacket or PFD any time you’re on the water, and it’s essential to do so anywhere their use is mandated by law. Just ask Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was recently fined $250 for not wearing one on Sydney Harbour.

According to Australian media, Turnbull was photographed moving his inflatable dinghy between his dock and a nearby jetty without wearing a PFD. Their use on Sydney Harbour is mandatory.

Turnbull said he only learned about the law requiring life jacket use after photos published of him in the dinghy led to comments on social media, and a subsequent $250 fine from the Australian authorities.

“The rules can often seem very technical, but they are there to keep us safe and we should all comply with them,” said Turnbull on his Facebook page. “So lesson learned; I will make sure I always wear a life jacket in my dinghy regardless of how close I am to the shore, just as I always do on my kayak.”