Hands tied on shark control

THERE was no choice but to withdraw shark drumlines from the waters around Townsville and Magnetic Island, the Fisheries Minister has said, after LNP politicians questioned the move.

All 45 shark drumlines in waters off Magnetic Island and Pallarenda Beach and the rest across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area have been removed, just as the school holidays begin.

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said the State Government was “forced to act” after the Federal Court dismissed an appeal against new permit conditions forced on Queensland’s Shark Control Program under federal legislation.

“The new conditions under federal law would turn the Shark Control Program from a ‘catch and remove’ program to a ‘catch and release’ program,” he said.

“Our contractors and staff are neither trained nor equipped to handle live sharks, tow them away from where they are caught and then to release them alive.

“We’re talking about sharks here, not whiting. You can’t just kiss them on the nose and throw them back.”

Federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson slammed Humane Society International, the group that sparked the legal action, and said it was “absolutely disgusting” that “lattesipping lefties” had thought it appropriate to push a court case that has ended up risking the lives of North Queenslanders.

“We must be putting the safety of human life first and supporting our great tourism industry in North and Central Queensland,” he said.

Mr Thompson also questioned the State Government’s swift removal of shark drumlines, saying there were alternatives available.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said removing the drumlines was “playing with politics” and the safety of Queenslanders.

“The court didn’t tell Labor to take out the drumlines – Labor chose to do it,” he said.

“The drumlines are legal if they are regularly monitored and sharks are removed quickly.”

Mr Furner said he was “stunned” at the LNP’S suggestion the State Government should “operate in breach of the law”.

“That speaks volumes about their lack of respect for the law,” he said.

“This can be fixed quickly and legally by the Federal Government changing its laws and allowing our Shark Control Program back into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.”