Recfishwest Policy
Working With Political Parties

Introduction.

Questions have been asked or suggestions made many times about Recfishwest getting political as a means of achieving certain objectives, including getting recreational fishers more involved in the issues and management of their pastime.

This policy provides Recfishwest's approach to working with Political Parties.

Policy.

Before Western Australian State elections, Recfishwest will prepare and distribute a position statement to advise parties and candidates on the policies and aspirations of that large proportion of the Western Australian community who go fishing for sport and recreation.

This will contain a description of some major issues followed by questions of primary importance which Recfishwest would like answered by parties. It will include specific points that Recfishwest believes should be addressed and require definitive commitments for the benefit of present and future recreational fishing in Western Australia.

Recfishwest has made a deliberate decision that it will work positively and constructively with all elected governments of whatever political party:-

1. to ensure sustainable management of fish stocks and habitat,
2. to preserve the environment,
3. to obtain adequate funding, and
4. all other items which could affect the interests of the recreational fishing community of Western Australia.

RFW will work within the overall political and administrative system for suitable decisions during the development stage of policies and proposals affecting these important issues.

RFW will provide credible alternatives where we do not support some details of any policies or proposals made by others.

RFW will cooperate to provide comments to any party, organisation or individual during the development of their policies or proposals.

RFW must canvass some opinions from the recreational fishing community and this necessarily involves some discussion or disclosure of some details even though these may not yet be final.

RFW will, however, respect reasonable requests about public statements until the details are ready for public discussion or consultation.

RFW will provide public comments on the suitability or otherwise of any party's or candidate's stated policies or proposals about any of the above topics, and their impact on the interests of Western Australian recreational fishers.

RFW comments will be placed on their website http://www.recfishwest.org.au/ and explained and made freely available to the media.

RFW will not openly support any one political party or candidate over any other, and RFW will not recommend or advise people how they should or could vote or comment on political issues.

RFW's preference is for the existence of a large number of political candidates from all sides of politics who have a strong affinity for responsible and sustainable fisheries and environmental management and are willing to commit to policies which support those.

RFW's public comments on policies and proposals affecting the interests of recreational fishing may be used by people, or ignored, as just one of many inputs to their own personal decisions on how to vote, who to vote for, or what comments to make.

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See also Recfishwest's 2008 WA State Election Policy Responses from the Political Parties will be added to that page as they are received.

and Recfishwest's Policy and questions for the previous 2005 WA State Election



This page prepared 30 March 2007, last updated 20 August 2008.