2025-06-12
The Greens have renewed calls for the Albanese government to reject a major expansion of shark nets used in the Queensland Shark Control Program.
It comes as yet another rescue operation is underway this morning to save a whale stuck in a shark net off the Gold Coast.
The Queensland LNP Government has controversially announced plans to expand shark nets, in a move that would need exemptions from already weak federal environment laws.
Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
“The evidence of how damaging shark nets are to our marine wildlife is playing out before our eyes, yet the Queensland government continues to ignore the facts.
“Shark nets cause mass destruction to marine wildlife, and evidence proves they do not make our beaches safe. In fact, evidence shows shark nets may attract sharks to beaches, where they can feed on marine wildlife caught in the nets.
“The LNP’s decision to expand the use of shark nets in Queensland’s Shark Control Program goes against the advice of its own government-commissioned report. It is a desperate distraction to create division within communities and is sadly straight out of the culture war playbook that the LNP loves.
“Under federal laws the Albanese government has a legal responsibility to protect endangered marine wildlife, including wildlife killed by lethal shark nets and drumlines deployed by the states of Queensland and NSW.
“I’ve written to Minister Watt imploring him to use Labor’s upcoming commitment to reform Australia's environmental laws to remove existing exemptions to state-controlled lethal shark net programs that risk federally protected species."
“Governments can help keep ocean-goers safe by supercharging investment in modern-day alternatives to outdated and ineffective shark nets and lethal drum lines: investing in shark shield personal deterrent devices, shark spotter programs, eco-shark barriers, bite proof wetsuits, and increasing public education are amongst many emerging risk mitigation alternatives.
“A 2017 Senate Inquiry into shark risk mitigation recommended the federal government show national leadership on driving this investment, but this has so far been ignored – it’s time to change that.