❓ Hon Ken Travers questions the Fisheries portfolio on fee reviews, cost recovery, and fee increases since 2008. The response details changes to recreational and commercial fishing fees, including a move towards royalty-like fees for commercial fishing and under-recovery for recreational fishing.
AnsweredQoN 4760Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
For each accountable authority in the Fisheries portfolio -
(1) How many reviews of their agencies’ fees and charges have been conducted since 23 September 2008?
(2) Did any of these reviews identify any fee or charge that is above cost recovery?
(3) If yes to (2), could you please provide -
(a) a list of the fees or charges identified;
(b) the amount the fee or charge was above cost recovery; and
(c) the reason for the fee or charge being above cost recovery?
(4) Did any of these reviews result in an increase in any fee or charge that was above cost recovery?
(5) If yes to (4), could you please provide -
(a) a list of the fees or charges that were increased;
(b) the amount that the fee or charge increased;
(c) how much above cost recovery was the new fee or charge; and
(d) the reason for the fee or charge being above cost recovery?
(1) How many reviews of their agencies’ fees and charges have been conducted since 23 September 2008?
(2) Did any of these reviews identify any fee or charge that is above cost recovery?
(3) If yes to (2), could you please provide -
(a) a list of the fees or charges identified;
(b) the amount the fee or charge was above cost recovery; and
(c) the reason for the fee or charge being above cost recovery?
(4) Did any of these reviews result in an increase in any fee or charge that was above cost recovery?
(5) If yes to (4), could you please provide -
(a) a list of the fees or charges that were increased;
(b) the amount that the fee or charge increased;
(c) how much above cost recovery was the new fee or charge; and
(d) the reason for the fee or charge being above cost recovery?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
35 days
(1) With the exception of fees for the grant and renewal of commercial and recreational authorizations, and aquaculture lease fees, the Department has not conducted any reviews of its fees and charges since 23 September 2008.
Recreational Fishing Fees
In 2010, the Government mandated standardized fees of all previously existing categories of recreational fishing fees. In determining its policy for the management of recreational fishing, the Government accepted that recreational fishing fees in total contributed only about 20% of the cost of the sustainable management of the State's recreational fisheries, and adopted a grouped approach to the pricing of the surviving previously existing categories of licence fees at $40 per licence. It also introduced a new category of licence fee applicable when recreationally fishing from a powered vessel at $30 per licence.
The Government has made an explicit policy decision to continue to under recover the costs of managing recreational fishing in WA, with the fees for licence categories being set at levels that enable equitable participation across the community.
The
Fish Resources Management Act 1994
was subsequently amended to clarify the fee setting powers of the Act in relation to commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture fees. As a result of the amendments relating to recreational fishing fees, section 258(2) of the Act provides that a recreational fishing fee may include an amount in connection with any purpose for which monies from the Recreational Fishing Account may be applied. This includes, among other things, research and education and compliance related to recreational fishing and defraying the cost of recreational fishing administration and management.
Commercial Fishing Fees
On 1 July 2010, the Government introduced a royalty-like fee for the grant and renewal of commercial fishing authorisations based on 5.75% of the gross value of production of respective fisheries. As new commercial fisheries are established, fees will be based on this formula. The
Fish Resources Management Act 1994
was subsequently amended to remove any doubt as to the legislative authority to charge a royalty-like fee, as opposed to fees based solely on cost recovery.
Aquaculture Lease Fees
The Department is currently in the process of reviewing lease fees for both aquaculture and pearling leases. This review has not yet been finalized.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) and (5) See response to (1) above.
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Recreational Fishing Fees
In 2010, the Government mandated standardized fees of all previously existing categories of recreational fishing fees. In determining its policy for the management of recreational fishing, the Government accepted that recreational fishing fees in total contributed only about 20% of the cost of the sustainable management of the State's recreational fisheries, and adopted a grouped approach to the pricing of the surviving previously existing categories of licence fees at $40 per licence. It also introduced a new category of licence fee applicable when recreationally fishing from a powered vessel at $30 per licence.
The Government has made an explicit policy decision to continue to under recover the costs of managing recreational fishing in WA, with the fees for licence categories being set at levels that enable equitable participation across the community.
The
Fish Resources Management Act 1994
was subsequently amended to clarify the fee setting powers of the Act in relation to commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture fees. As a result of the amendments relating to recreational fishing fees, section 258(2) of the Act provides that a recreational fishing fee may include an amount in connection with any purpose for which monies from the Recreational Fishing Account may be applied. This includes, among other things, research and education and compliance related to recreational fishing and defraying the cost of recreational fishing administration and management.
Commercial Fishing Fees
On 1 July 2010, the Government introduced a royalty-like fee for the grant and renewal of commercial fishing authorisations based on 5.75% of the gross value of production of respective fisheries. As new commercial fisheries are established, fees will be based on this formula. The
Fish Resources Management Act 1994
was subsequently amended to remove any doubt as to the legislative authority to charge a royalty-like fee, as opposed to fees based solely on cost recovery.
Aquaculture Lease Fees
The Department is currently in the process of reviewing lease fees for both aquaculture and pearling leases. This review has not yet been finalized.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) and (5) See response to (1) above.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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