Shark cull

[underfoot]

..So, the West Australian shark cull has been stopped.
I'm curious to know who decided it was a good idea in the first place.
I have spent a big part of my life in the ocean, swimming, surfing, diving, fishing etc ..
(a recent fatal shark attack at my beach prompted this post)
no one I know or none of my friends believe this was ever a good idea..
a mate, who is the editor of a newspaper said even his journos couldn't find anyone to support the cull ..
my question is...is there anyone here who agrees with the cull?

[BobL]

..So, the West Australian shark cull has been stopped.
I'm curious to know who decided it was a good idea in the first place?

According to Wikipedia and the WA Premier it was Queenslanders and NSW.

I don't agree with it but in the small circles I move in I'd say most people are for it.

[doug3030]

I do not support it and I have never heard anyone speak in favor of it. I have heard many speak against it.

[fenderbelly]

Not in favour of it and don't know anyone who was.

[Boringgeoff]

I don't agree with it either, but in fairness to the Premier he was stuck between a rock and a hard place because of the clamour of the press and the public to do something about the spate of shark attacks we've had.

[AlexS]

Did the public over there really want it, or was it just the press? Haven't heard anyone east side in favour of it, we all reckon the more sandgropers they take, the better.

[Boringgeoff]

Whoa there Alex, that's blatant racism, actually the most recent victim here was a banana bender I think. I guess typically it would be the press. Our Premier is not at his most comfortable with a camera in his face and when he announced the cull policy they photographed him holding a shark hook and a smile on his dial. The media have not wasted an opportunity to rerun the happy looking Mr Barnett with the huge hook in his hand.

[artme]

I don't swim in the ocean!! That's my WPHAS position!!

I have an agreement with the sharks: I stay out of their bathtub and they don't come to the pub!!

Seriously though, this was a foolish decision. We have a fellow here in Hervey Bay - Vic Hislop - who is ( at least was) of the opinion that all sharks ought to be eliminated. Perhaps he could move to WA!!!

The Sea of Cortez - Baha California- has had the sharks hunted to extinction, or very close to that point. As a
result the area is now infested with giant squid that are depleting other fish species. They also happen to be
far more dangerous than sharks as they attack in numbers and are ruthless.

[Milo]

I grew up at a beach called Muizenberg in Cape Town, the bay that the beach is situated is called False Bay, it has the highest concentration of big great whites in the world. I surfed there from 8 years old well into my late twenty's. I never saw one although I am sure many swam past me because the helicopter told us to get out the water a few times.

I accept that it is their ocean...not mine! I and my family accept that if i was taken it was meant to be. 99% of cases is mistaken identity so cut them some slack!

If your not to prepared to accept the risk then don't get in the ocean!!

[BobL]

Whoa there Alex, that's blatant racism, actually the most recent victim here was a banana bender I think. I guess typically it would be the press. Our Premier is not at his most comfortable with a camera in his face and when he announced the cull policy they photographed him holding a shark hook and a smile on his dial. The media have not wasted an opportunity to rerun the happy looking Mr Barnett with the huge hook in his hand.

Well put Geoff. The premier was in a difficult position and, like the ex treasurer, didn't handle the situation all that well. If the WA govt had adopted the Abbot govt method of doing it and saying little or nothing it wouldn't have got the air time it ended up generating. Like I said don't agree with it but most folks I talk to appreciated that it was done to keep the Govt from being lynched by the friends and family of the next person to be taken. It was purely a political decision - like they all are - eastern staters are not immune.

I did sign a petition against it but 'm not prepared to march in the streets about it.

How about we talk about something closer to MY pocket - i.e. the WA GST rip off by the eastern states

[underfoot]

but most folks I talk to appreciated that it was done to keep the Govt from being lynched by the friends and family of the next person to be taken.

..the problem here is that no family members of any attack victim supported the cull.
however, after a little more interweb searching...leaked documents indicate that the 107 day cull cost taxpayers $20million dollars..(fishermen got $610,000 of that)...hmm

[Sebastiaan56]

Stupidity and from the looks of looks of it designed to line someones pockets. Is there an ICAC equivalent in WA?

[BobL]

..the problem here is that no family members of any attack victim supported the cull.
however, after a little more interweb searching...leaked documents indicate that the 107 day cull cost taxpayers $20million dollars..(fishermen got $610,000 of that)...hmm

The $20 million includes the cost of aircraft monitoring. Even keep small planes in the air costs big $.

[underfoot]

The $20 million includes the cost of aircraft monitoring. Even keep small planes in the air costs big $.

..exactly...$19.4 million for 107 days...lots and lots of small planes..would love to see the books

[BobL]

..exactly...$19.4 million for 107 days...lots and lots of small planes..would love to see the books

We'd all like to see the books on deals done by govts maybe stating with those in NSW.