Archived page, Media Statement
Funds sunk from recreational boating scheme.

31 May 2002

Recfishwest has today asked the government for a full, independent review of the administration of the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme after gross inconsistencies have been discovered.

The Executive Director of Recfishwest, Mr Frank Prokop said that at a recent meeting with relevant officers from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, it was revealed an amount of $650,000 had been moved from the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme into "other priority areas".

The Recreational Boating Facility Scheme was established by Cabinet to be used for the provision of improved boating facilities. This was in response to anger from the boat owners of Western Australia at the significant increases in boat registration fees in 1997/98 and 1998/99.

"Boat owners should feel outraged that this amount of money should be re-allocated without consultation and apparently against the purpose for which the scheme was established." Mr Prokop said.

"We believe that an independent review is required to determine the extent of this re-allocation and whether there have been any breaches of public sector guidelines."

"The community has an expectation that moneys collected for a purpose will be used for that purpose. We have been trying to get answers from the department since February, but there seems to be no accountability in this area."

Recfishwest is also concerned that the Department of Planning and Infrastructure do not intend to contribute to the costs of shark monitoring over the past summer even though Cabinet made a direction that the costs would be shared.

"Recfishwest was told that a consultant had recommended that the payment not be made as it wasn't in the best interests of the department to make the contribution. Apparently a consultant's report is valued more highly than a direction from Cabinet." Mr Prokop stated.

"We appreciate the support of the Minister, Alannah MacTiernan so far and ask her to ensure that her department is accountable for its expenditure. Recfishwest believes that only an independent inquiry can get to the bottom of what is an extremely serious matter."

ENDS

Media contact: Frank Prokop Executive Director

Telephone 9246 3366, Mobile 0419 949 118

Recfishwest is sponsored by Healthway. Recfishwest encourages responsible, Sunsmart behaviour at all times.

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Recfishwest renews call for audit of recreational boating scheme.

Recfishwest has today renewed its call on the government for a full, independent review of the administration of the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme after gross inconsistencies have been discovered.

The Executive Director of Recfishwest, Mr Frank Prokop said that a media release put out by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure highlighted the need for an independent audit of this fund.

The department claims to have spent $2.7 million on the scheme since its inception, yet on figures that have been supplied to Recfishwest, only $1.55 million has actually been spent. Recfishwest believes that such a large discrepancy must be fully accounted for.

"According to our calculations, there should be a balance of $1.7 million in the scheme which could be put to a major facility such as a boat ramp at Rous Head." Mr Prokop said.

Mr Prokop also accused the Department of ignoring the major issues and trying to gloss over the accountability which should apply to all government departments.

"The Department makes no mention of the future of the scheme or whether the funds which are claimed to have been used in facilities construction in 2000-2001 have actually been used for the purpose."

Mr Prokop called on the department to publicly state that the full balance of the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme was intact and would be used for the purpose for which it was intended when the scheme was originally established.

Mr Prokop was pleased that the department had answered some of the questions but disappointed that the department did not respond to regular correspondence but only to media releases.

Mr Prokop said that the matter was yet to be finally resolved. He also claimed that these issues highlighted the value of independent watchdog organisations like Recfishwest which ensured that all government departments were held fully accountable for their actions.

ENDS

Media Contact

Frank Prokop, Executive Director - Recfishwest 9246 3366, 0419 949 118.

Recfishwest is sponsored by Healthway. Recfishwest encourages responsible, Sunsmart behaviour at all times



This page last updated on 30 December 2003.