Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We can protect great white sharks in Australia, and we can protect the people who share the ocean with them. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Great white sharks are a protected species in Australia, listed as vulnerable to extinction. But they're also the most feared predator in our oceans, rightly or wrongly. When we see a traumatic and tragic spate of events, as we've seen in South Australia in recent weeks where we've had surfers and swimmers bitten by white sharks, we inevitably get calls—populous and unscientific calls—to cull and kill sharks. I've got a lot of problems with that. Firstly, it doesn't work to reduce the risk of shark bites in Australia, and there are so many other things we can do.

I was lucky enough to be invited to go to Port Lincoln this weekend and speak at White Sharks Global, a meeting of 150 scientists and experts from around the world who have come to South Australia to discuss issues around white shark research, white shark behaviour, white shark conservation and, of course, how to reduce the risks of white sharks interacting with humans in our oceans. I know this is a matter of significant public importance in a place like South Australia, and I urge the South Australian Premier to get down to Port Lincoln this weekend. Take your advisers or get the relevant ministers and take the opportunity to meet with these experts who know what they're talking about. There are a lot of things that the South Australian government can do to reduce risks. Primarily, do what the Western Australian government has done and provide rebates to roll out personal shark deterrent devices. They can be very effective and make a big difference in this debate.