Policy on Recfishwest and reviewability

Recfishwest is funded by Government to function as the peak organisation representing recreational fishing interests. Its Board comprises equally, representatives from the key recreational fishing associations, which in their turn represent affiliated clubs, and public Board Members drawn from its general members list via annual elections. Any member of the public is able, by applying and paying an annual membership fee, to become a general member of Recfishwest.

Recfishwest, while receiving the bulk of its funds from Government, is not bound in any way by Government or Departmental policy; to the contrary, its constitution requires it, inter alia, to "represent and advocate the interests of the Western Australian recreational fishing community at State and National levels to Government...on any issues which affect the development and sustainability of recreational fishing". (emphasis added)

Recfishwest recognises that as a body that is substantially funded from public funds through Government, it must and should be open to scrutiny on important matters including financial probity and effectiveness. Recfishwest welcomes such scrutiny but within the following framework:

Recfishwest will always respond to requests from the office of the Minister for Fisheries for information and explanations as to the use of funding derived from public sources. However, Recfishwest, under its constitution, carries the full responsibility for any decisions made by it and is thus independent from Government insofar as its discharge of responsibility is concerned;

Recfishwest will participate in any reviews of recreational sector public funding and the effectiveness of the use of those funds by the recreation fishing sector generally and by itself specifically. Our formal participation in such reviews will be at the formal request of the Minister or through the Department of Fisheries following the Minister's formal endorsement;

Recfishwest, recognises the Minister's prerogative in establishing review terms of reference in any review of recreational fishing funding but strongly expresses its wish to participate in the setting of the terms of reference in any review affecting it directly.

This policy statement was adopted by Recfishwest in response to dialogue and correspondence between Recfishwest, the office of the Minister for Fisheries, and some key participants in the recreational fishing sector".



This page last updated on 30 December 2003.