Policy Statement


Western Australians are fed up seeing their recreational opportunities reduced by government restrictions. Our right to enjoy the great outdoors is under threat like never before.

Recreational fishermen have been hit with bans on fishing for five popular species of fish.

Motorcyclists and 4WD owners face excessive restrictions on where they can recreate off road. There is virtually nowhere for children to accompany their parents riding off road. Beaches are being closed and no replacements are being found.

It is getting harder to find legal horse trails, camping and caravanning locations.

There is a serious shortage of boat moorings and pens and great opportunities like the development of Ocean Reef marina are held up by planning and environmental red tape.

"WA FAMILY FIRST wants to change all this. We strongly support the right of Western Australians to enjoy outdoor recreational activities," FAMILY FIRST leader Dan Sullivan said.

"We fully support the Fish for Life alternative strategy instead of the government's total ban on fishing for popular fish species." (For full details of how best to protect fish stocks without imposing onerous bans see www.fishforlifealliance.com).

"Labor decided to impose seasonal fishing bans on popular species and all the Liberals can say is they will "look at" the decision! FAMILY FIRST won't sit on the fence. We oppose the decision - no ifs or buts.

"Your vote at the coming election can give FAMILY FIRST the balance of power to help block these restrictions and push for the better Fish for Life alternative."

Mr Sullivan said FAMILY FIRST will use its balance of power to:

• Introduce legislation tackling public liability problems facing individuals and businesses engaged in outdoor pursuits, including letting parents assume legal responsibility for their children;
• Opposing recreational fishing licence fees and supporting recreational fishing wherever there is a conflict with commercial fishing;
• Banning commercial crayfishing near popular surf breaks;
• Opening up CALM land and keeping beaches open for off road motorcycling and 4WD'ing (we'll support the work of off road clubs and groups like the Recreational Trailbike Riders' Association which have developed excellent plans to improve off road opportunities);
• Giving our full backing to the campaign by the West Australian Recreation, Sport, Tourism Alliance (WARSTA) to keep water catchment areas open for recreational use, including Wellington dam and Logue Brook dam;
• Supporting the North Port Quay development that will see 2,000 new boat pens built in Fremantle;
• Supporting the Ocean Reef Marina development and government funding for new boat facilities;
• Providing secure tenure through freehold or 99 year leases for the owners of shacks along the WA coast;
• Cutting out red tape to let people ride off road vehicles alongside gazetted roads under reasonable circumstances (eg: taking a quad bike a short distance to the beach);
• Developing and expanding the State's trails network;
• Establishing a Ministerial committee representing all aspects of outdoor recreation to oversee legislative reforms and policy development, including representatives from industry, clubs and organisations with an interest in improving the state's recreational opportunities.

"We are totally, 100 percent supportive of the recreational sector," Mr Sullivan said.

"Labor and the Greens keep restricting recreational opportunities and the Liberals just sit on the fence, frightened to upset anyone.

"We are different. We are prepared to stand up and be counted and we will use the balance of power in Parliament to fight for all Western Australians' rights to enjoy the great outdoors."