Tougher line on shark threats
Sharks seen at popular beaches will be targeted more aggressively under the State Government's imminent threat policy, Colin Barnett says.
Clarifying comments he made after WA’s environment watchdog rejected his drum-line program last month, the Premier flagged changes to the way the threat policy is applied rather than the guidelines themselves.
It came as the Abbott Government again signalled it was unlikely to approve WA’s extended drum-line program, despite issuing a special exemption to kill sharks after the latest attack.
Under WA's imminent threat policy, Fisheries or contracted fishermen are allowed to catch and kill sharks deemed a public safety hazard, provided they get Commonwealth approval.
Mr Barnett said yesterday that instead of granting new or expanded powers, he simply wanted the policy to be applied more readily when a threat to people was identified.
He said Fisheries' fast efforts to catch two great white sharks on Thursday after Sean Pollard was attacked showed how the policy could be put into action quickly.
And he flagged its further use in future, suggesting it could be invoked in the South West during busy periods if a shark was seen hanging around popular beaches for extended periods of time.
“We won't have drum lines off the beaches as a matter of course, but where a shark is seen to be a threat, particularly around popular swimming areas, and if it stays in that area, then we will use a drum line to catch that shark,” Mr Barnett said. “We just act — that’s the change.”
On Thursday, the Premier wrote to Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt seeking an urgent exemption from Federal environment laws to allow the State to catch and kill the sharks thought responsible for biting Mr Pollard.
In approving the exemption, Mr Hunt said the temporary kill order should not be taken as a sign the Federal department would approve plans to set static drum lines for the next three summers.
“This exemption should not be seen as indicating what my upcoming decision will be on the proposal for the WA shark hazard mitigation drum-line program,” Mr Hunt said in a letter.
Mr Barnett has not withdrawn his application to the Environment Department to allow drum-line baiting, even though WA’s Environmental Protection Agency has recommended against it.
Observers say it is highly(unlikely the department will approve the drum-line program.
