❓ Opposition questions the government's recreational fishing licence fees, particularly for small vessels, arguing it impacts low-income earners. The Premier defends the fee as a small contribution towards fisheries management and conservation.
AnsweredQoN 741Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RECREATIONAL FISHING FEES — VESSELS UNDER 4.4 METRES
I refer to the failure of the Premier’s government on its fishing licences decision and to its new proposals to tax boat owners. (1) Will the government now take this one step further and exempt vessels that are under 4.4 metres from its tax grab to ensure that working families and low-income earners are protected? (2) If not, why not? (3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the failure of the Premier’s government on its fishing licences decision and to its new proposals to tax boat owners. (1) Will the government now take this one step further and exempt vessels that are under 4.4 metres from its tax grab to ensure that working families and low-income earners are protected? (2) If not, why not? (3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(1) Will the government now take this one step further and exempt vessels that are under 4.4 metres from its tax grab to ensure that working families and low-income earners are protected? (2) If not, why not? (3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(2) If not, why not? (3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(1) Will the government now take this one step further and exempt vessels that are under 4.4 metres from its tax grab to ensure that working families and low-income earners are protected? (2) If not, why not? (3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(2) If not, why not? (3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(3) How much revenue will this stubborn effort to tax recreational fishers actually raise? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
(1)-(3) I do not know the answer off the cuff to the last part of the question. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : More contributions from the well-known and somewhat notorious abalone fisherman opposite. Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr M.P. Murray : You’ve never been on the water. You wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : I think the Premier recognises that the question that the Leader of the Opposition has asked is a serious question, and he is attempting to give a serious answer. With interjections, that is not going to happen, member for Collie-Preston. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government does not apologise for addressing the issue of the risk to the demersal species—dhufish in particular, and snapper and baldchin groper. The evidence about the risk to that fishery has been in the public domain for two to three years. To impose a licence and a licence fee on people who fish only from a boat is a small impost on them. The fee for a licence for fishing from a boat is $30. For a pensioner or a child, it is $15—half price. I mean, really! How much does it cost to fill up even a small boat with a tank of fuel to go out a kilometre off the beach and fish? Are there any fishermen— Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr M.P. Murray : For a 20-litre tank, $23. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Twenty-three bucks. It is 23 bucks for a small boat, so every time a person goes out, he will spend $23 on fuel—that is hardly a big component—and he will have all his gear. As if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston, I did warn you before about interjecting. You may have provided some useful information, but I would ask you to cease interjecting. I formally call you for the first time. Member for Cockburn, I also ask you to stop interjecting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing — Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr P.B. Watson : It’s all right for you on 300 grand a year. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, that is not necessary or useful at all. I formally call you for the first time. I give the call to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : An annual licence fee of $30—$15 for pensioners—is a very, very small requirement of people who enjoy boating and recreational fishing and who also want to see those species that are at risk survive so that future generations can go boating and fishing with an expectation of catching a fish. Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Cockburn! Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : As it is a small amount of money, it will not raise a great deal of revenue, but the money that comes in will be used for fishery management, along with additional funds from the consolidated account. It is fair and reasonable that people who fish should make some contribution to the management and protection of fisheries. We do not apologise about that. What are members opposite saying? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are telling the public not to accept responsibility. I say to the fishing public of this state that they should accept responsibility for their recreational activity and contribute to the management and preservation of those species. I do not apologise for that, and neither does any member on this side. It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
It is true that we have changed what was originally proposed. The change is modest, but it will give fisheries authorities information on who is fishing and what they are catching, and it will allow for data collection and proper management of fisheries. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not only about better management of recreational fishing; it is a significant measure of conservation needs and it is a pro-environment policy. Although the Labor Party likes to say it cares about the environment, when faced with a real environmental issue, a practical one that affects mums and dads, fishermen, pensioners—in fact, all—and we ask the fishing public to accept a tiny share of the responsibility, as most of the management of the fishery will still be funded out of the consolidated account, the Labor Party will not back it. The vast majority of people who fish are responsible and they accept and endorse the licence fee. To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
To answer the final part of the question, no, we will not be exempting boats under 4.1 metres in length. Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr F.M. Logan : That is outrageous! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Outrageous! I do not care whether they go out in a bathtub. If they go out in a bathtub off the beach, they will pay a fishing licence!
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.