Drums beating on nets

Human life top priority

OPPOSITION Tourism spokesman David Crisafulli backs replacing shark nets with drum lines on the Gold Coast – but wants evidence first that beachgoers will not be at greater risk.

The Broadwater MP said calls to remove the nets, including during a rally at Burleigh Heads on Thursday, arose from “an awareness across society and across ages of the need to do the right thing by the environment”.

“But the overwhelming view is the life of a human is worth more than the life of an animal,” he said.

“Now, if the Government does embark on the removal of the nets, they cannot put their hands up as they did previously and say there’s no solution available. You cannot go back one inch on community safety. It needs to be as good or better than the current solution.

“Our view is if drum lines are the solution, move into the 21st century and make it SMART drum lines.

“Couple that with drone technology and let’s get a good environmental and public safety outcome. That’s the balance that can be found.”

The Bulletin reported yesterday that Fisheries Minister Mark Furner and the State Government were considering replacing nets off some beaches with traditional drum lines.

The debate comes after three humpback whales were snagged in Gold Coast nets in three days between June 19-21. Two weeks earlier, surfer Robin ‘Rob’ Pedretti was fatally mauled at unprotected Salt Beach, just over the NSW border, on June 7.

Mr Crisafulli said before nets were pulled out on the Gold Coast and replaced he wanted the Government to “produce the evidence that shows there is an as-good or better level of protection”.

“We have carved out a reputation over more than half a century across different political parties and different generations of being the safest place in Australia to swim,” he said.

“I will not stand for anything that reduces that reputation. That doesn’t mean we can’t do things smarter and we shouldn’t be moving technology into the 21st century, but public safety and that reputation for public safety must remain.”

Mr Furner said human life was paramount with the state’s shark control program.

“Unlike the LNP, we will prioritise human life rather than cheap political shots,” he said.

“The LNP cannot be trusted with our long-standing successful shark control program.

“In just the last year they have pledged to install drum lines in places where science says they won’t work, then argued to release dangerous sharks near swimmers and now try to pretend they support swimmer safety.”

SMART (Shark-Management-Alert-in-Real-Time) drum lines are non-lethal and designed to alert authorities when a shark is hooked by using satellite technology.

BULLETIN VIEW, P82