• A Mettam Liberal Government will cut WA’s exorbitant recreational fishing licensing costs and streamline licence requirements

• WA Labor presides over the most complex and expensive scheme in Australia

• WA recreational fishing licensing is seven times more expensive than NSW

A Mettam Liberal Government will save recreational fishers up to $250 a year and streamline WA’s archaic and bureaucratic recreational fishing licensing scheme.

“With six different fishing licences, WA has the most excessive and expensive fishing licensing scheme in Australia,” WA Liberal Leader Libby Mettam said.

“Unlike every other state, requiring six different fishing licenses creates needless complexity for those West Australians wanting to get outside and enjoy WA’s incredible natural environment.

“Those keen anglers who buy all the licenses are looking at paying nearly $300 every year in fees to pursue their hobby.

“A WA Liberal Government will streamline all fishing licenses into one single licence at $40.”

Last financial year, 229,000 licences were issued for recreational fishing with licences for Rock Lobster, Abalone, Marron, Freshwater Angling, and Net Fishing all priced at $50. The most common licence, Recreational Fishing from Boat, is priced at $40.

For fishers who currently pay for six separate licences the saving will be $250. For fishers who pay $40 for a fishing from a boat licence, the cost will be the same but all types of fishing will be included in their licence.

Ms Mettam said the $21 million budget for the proposed changes meant organisations, such as Recfishwest, and other initiatives that currently benefited from the proceeds of licencing fees would not be impacted and would continue to be funded.

Liberal Spokesperson for Fisheries Merome Beard said fishing was WA’s most popular pastime and supported jobs across the state.

“Recfishwest estimates there are 700,000 recreational fishers in WA – that is around one in four West Australians,” Ms Beard said.

“In addition to that, our state’s world-renowned coastline and healthy ecosystem makes WA a top global fishing destination.

“Streamlining the process for getting into fishing is good for families, and it is good for the $1.1bn recreational fishing industry.

“The WA Liberals’ policy to streamline the recreational fishing industry will offer real savings for families, and provide a boost to the tackle shops, caravan parks, fuel stations, and the local communities who support the industry.”

WA Liberal Candidate for Hillarys Lisa Olsson, whose electorate is home to the iconic Hillarys Boat Harbour, welcomed the news.

“Especially in Hillarys but across WA, fishing is our state’s most popular recreational activity, and offers significant social, cultural, mental health and economic benefits,” Ms Olsson said.

“To purchase every type of fishing licence in WA is seven times more expensive than it is in NSW and Victoria.

“Hillarys is a major gateway for enjoying some of the best fishing WA has to offer, and we should be encouraging West Australians to get out and go fishing, not deterring them with exorbitant fees in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“Our Building a Better Future blueprint shows a Mettam Liberal Government’s commitment to lower living costs, and saving families money when they just want to go fishing is another way we will do that.”