❓ Mr. Kelly questions the Premier's comments on shark drum line programs as fearmongering. The Premier defends the program due to shark attack fatalities and criticises the EPA's decision, prioritising public safety.
AnsweredQoN 684Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM
LINE PROGRAM — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY REPORT —
PREMIER'S COMMENTS
684. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Premier:
I ask a supplementary question. Are
the comments of the Premier just a case of fearmongering, the same as we heard
today from the acting Minister for Tourism when he said that he would swim only
close to the beach in the south west?
LINE PROGRAM — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY REPORT —
PREMIER'S COMMENTS
684. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Premier:
I ask a supplementary question. Are
the comments of the Premier just a case of fearmongering, the same as we heard
today from the acting Minister for Tourism when he said that he would swim only
close to the beach in the south west?
AnswerView source ↗
When seven people die from shark attacks, yes, there is room
for fear, and people in this state are fearful. That is why surf clubs
throughout Western Australia back the government on this policy—to
provide greater protection and confidence for people. That is why the surfing
association came out and supported it.
As I have said in this house and
publicly on a number of occasions, no-one likes the concept of drum lines or
killing sharks, but when seven people lose their lives over a three-year
period, it falls upon the government and the Premier of the day to make a
decision. I am disappointed by the decision of the EPA.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the second time.
Let the Premier finish.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : In my view, there is a responsibility to act.
Mr
M. McGowan : What about the tourism business?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I will come back to that.
Mr
M. McGowan : It's an important point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am answering the question. When sightings of very large sharks occur on a
fairly consistent basis, as they have in the south west, staying for several
days in the case of Albany and at least a month in areas where people swim,
surf and recreate, that is a risk to public safety. The EPA's decision
relates to the marine environment and the species of great white sharks, which
are not endangered; they are listed as vulnerable. That is the only scope of
its report. The issue of the safety of the public is not a matter that the EPA
considers; that is a matter for government to deal with. I accept the criticism
of the drum line policy but, in my view—it is my view—the EPA
made it clear that there was a lack of evidence one way or the other and that
it decided on the side of caution. I and this government have a responsibility
for the safety of beach users. We are heading to summer and the school holidays
—
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, you asked a question and a supplementary, I have called
you to order twice. If I call you to order for a third time, you are on a
slippery slope.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Of the measures that this government has put in place I think
without doubt the most effective, and I have to say the most expensive by a
long way, has been the switch from fixed-wing aircraft to helicopter patrols
patrolling more hours in the day over a longer duration of the summer period
and introduced for the first time in the south west; that is the most
significant change. It is for that reason that I made the comment that I think
the metropolitan beaches, which are relatively easy to cover from the air and
have surf clubs all the way along, are as safe as they can reasonably be. I
praise the surf clubs for the work that they have done in conjunction with
government. I think the south west is a different situation; it is more
difficult. At the moment we are looking at some measures there. One measure
that has proved successful is the trial of a swimming enclosure at Dunsborough;
it has been a great success. We are looking at extending that, but it can only
apply in areas of comparatively still water. Yes, it could happen at Busselton,
Rockingham and maybe at Leighton, but not across all metropolitan beaches and
certainly not across the surf beaches in the south west. That is the issue that
we are dealing with and all the opposition can come up with is a semantic point
about the term ''rogue shark'', which is a common usage term.
for fear, and people in this state are fearful. That is why surf clubs
throughout Western Australia back the government on this policy—to
provide greater protection and confidence for people. That is why the surfing
association came out and supported it.
As I have said in this house and
publicly on a number of occasions, no-one likes the concept of drum lines or
killing sharks, but when seven people lose their lives over a three-year
period, it falls upon the government and the Premier of the day to make a
decision. I am disappointed by the decision of the EPA.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the second time.
Let the Premier finish.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : In my view, there is a responsibility to act.
Mr
M. McGowan : What about the tourism business?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I will come back to that.
Mr
M. McGowan : It's an important point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am answering the question. When sightings of very large sharks occur on a
fairly consistent basis, as they have in the south west, staying for several
days in the case of Albany and at least a month in areas where people swim,
surf and recreate, that is a risk to public safety. The EPA's decision
relates to the marine environment and the species of great white sharks, which
are not endangered; they are listed as vulnerable. That is the only scope of
its report. The issue of the safety of the public is not a matter that the EPA
considers; that is a matter for government to deal with. I accept the criticism
of the drum line policy but, in my view—it is my view—the EPA
made it clear that there was a lack of evidence one way or the other and that
it decided on the side of caution. I and this government have a responsibility
for the safety of beach users. We are heading to summer and the school holidays
—
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, you asked a question and a supplementary, I have called
you to order twice. If I call you to order for a third time, you are on a
slippery slope.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Of the measures that this government has put in place I think
without doubt the most effective, and I have to say the most expensive by a
long way, has been the switch from fixed-wing aircraft to helicopter patrols
patrolling more hours in the day over a longer duration of the summer period
and introduced for the first time in the south west; that is the most
significant change. It is for that reason that I made the comment that I think
the metropolitan beaches, which are relatively easy to cover from the air and
have surf clubs all the way along, are as safe as they can reasonably be. I
praise the surf clubs for the work that they have done in conjunction with
government. I think the south west is a different situation; it is more
difficult. At the moment we are looking at some measures there. One measure
that has proved successful is the trial of a swimming enclosure at Dunsborough;
it has been a great success. We are looking at extending that, but it can only
apply in areas of comparatively still water. Yes, it could happen at Busselton,
Rockingham and maybe at Leighton, but not across all metropolitan beaches and
certainly not across the surf beaches in the south west. That is the issue that
we are dealing with and all the opposition can come up with is a semantic point
about the term ''rogue shark'', which is a common usage term.
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