DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES ANNUAL REPORT TO THE ...

DISCLOSURES AND LEgAL COMPLIANCE � gOvERNMENT POLICy REqUIREMENTS
Government Policy Requirements
Substantive equality
Since 2006 the principles of Substantive Equality
have been adopted by the Department of Fisheries
through the development of an Aboriginal Fishing
Strategy and the adoption of a Customary Fishing
Policy.
The Department has also met its Substantive
Equality responsibilities with the production of
recreational fishing information written in the
Vietnamese language. An example includes
Crabbing for Blue Swimmer Crab Stocks in the
West Coast Region that is currently posted on the
Department’s website.
The Department has identified that the next
stage of the priority service area will be a Needs
and Impact Assessment regarding the licensing of
aquatic charter activities of Aboriginal and minority
ethnic groups. A preliminary scoping document was
developed during 2009/10 outlining the background
to current management arrangements for Aboriginal
fishing tour operators. The Needs and Impact
Assessment work will be undertaken as part of the
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overall review of the aquatic charter industry that is
due to be completed by the end of 2011.
Public Sector compliance and
ethical codes
The Department of Fisheries’ Human Resource
Management (HRM) policies are written to support
the achievement of its HR strategy and to comply
with the HRM standards for WA’s public sector. All
HR policies, including the Conduct and Behaviour
Guide, are available to staff via the Department’s
Intranet. The Department continues to have very
low numbers of claims relating to breaches of
standards and ethical codes.
The Conduct and Behaviour Guide has been
promoted and discussed at visits by HR staff to all
regional centres and completion rates for the online
training course continue to improve.