❓ Hon Rick Mazza questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding recreational fishing licence fee increases, consultation with Recfishwest, and revenue allocation. The Minister defends the increase as necessary for sustainable resource management and clarifies WA's fee structure relative to other states.
AnsweredQoN 407Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RECREATIONAL FISHING
LICENCE FEES
407. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the state government
raising recreational fishing licence fees by $5 in last week's budget,
the second time in 12 months.
(1) Did the state
government consult with Recfishwest prior to the $5 licence fee increase across
all licence categories?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Why was
another recreational fishing licence fee increase necessary when WA was already
paying the highest recreational fishing fees in the country?
(4) Were any
other revenue raising options in the sector considered before recreational
fishing licence fees were increased for a second time?
(5) What was the cost of managing WA
recreational fishing in 2017?
(6) How much revenue was raised by
the 2017 recreational fishing licence fee increase?
(7) Will the
increase in fees be accompanied by an increase in service provided to WA
recreational fishers?
LICENCE FEES
407. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the state government
raising recreational fishing licence fees by $5 in last week's budget,
the second time in 12 months.
(1) Did the state
government consult with Recfishwest prior to the $5 licence fee increase across
all licence categories?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Why was
another recreational fishing licence fee increase necessary when WA was already
paying the highest recreational fishing fees in the country?
(4) Were any
other revenue raising options in the sector considered before recreational
fishing licence fees were increased for a second time?
(5) What was the cost of managing WA
recreational fishing in 2017?
(6) How much revenue was raised by
the 2017 recreational fishing licence fee increase?
(7) Will the
increase in fees be accompanied by an increase in service provided to WA
recreational fishers?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Fisheries has provided the following answer.
(1)–(2) Budget
matters are cabinet-in-confidence and announced by the Treasurer through the
budget speech.
(3) The fee
increase was necessary to ensure that recreational fishers in WA continue to
have access to a world-class, sustainably managed resource. There will be no
further increase to fishing licence fees over this term of government. WA
recreational fishers do not pay the highest licence fees in the country. Unlike
Victoria, WA does not require a licence for line fishing off the beach or coastal
jetties. Recreational fishing licence fee revenue in 2016–17 covered
less than half the cost of managing recreational fishing in Western Australia.
(4) Yes.
(5) In the 2016–17 financial
year, the expenditure on recreational fishing was $17.5 million.
(6) It is
estimated that the $5 fee increase in July last year has resulted in an
additional $600 000 increase in revenue.
The Minister for Fisheries has provided the following answer.
(1)–(2) Budget
matters are cabinet-in-confidence and announced by the Treasurer through the
budget speech.
(3) The fee
increase was necessary to ensure that recreational fishers in WA continue to
have access to a world-class, sustainably managed resource. There will be no
further increase to fishing licence fees over this term of government. WA
recreational fishers do not pay the highest licence fees in the country. Unlike
Victoria, WA does not require a licence for line fishing off the beach or coastal
jetties. Recreational fishing licence fee revenue in 2016–17 covered
less than half the cost of managing recreational fishing in Western Australia.
(4) Yes.
(5) In the 2016–17 financial
year, the expenditure on recreational fishing was $17.5 million.
(6) It is
estimated that the $5 fee increase in July last year has resulted in an
additional $600 000 increase in revenue.
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