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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-25 Daily Xml
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SHARK ATTACKS

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:19): My question is directed to the Minister for Emergency Services. What is the government doing to ensure the safety of South Australian beachgoers from shark attacks?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:19): For the past four summers the state government, through the Community Emergency Services Fund, has funded seven day a week aerial shark surveillance patrols. This year the aerial shark surveillance service consisted of fixed-wing aircraft patrols provided by the University of South Australia and a helicopter patrol provided by Surf Lifesaving South Australia. The UniSA fixed-wing service commenced on 1 December 2008 and was due to finish on 27 March 2009, while the Westpac Rescue Helicopter shark surveillance patrols commenced on 1 November 2008 and will finish on 29 March 2009.

Following consultation with the Bureau of Meteorology, the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission has advised that there is potential for above average temperatures for April. The warmer weather will give families and beachgoers an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful South Australian beaches for an extended period this season. I am therefore pleased to inform the house that an agreement has been reached with UniSA to extend its current service until 26 April. This will ensure that a seven day a week aerial shark surveillance patrol will be operating up to and including the Easter long weekend and throughout the April school holidays from North Haven to Normanville.

Since the summer of 2005-06, the state government has provided more than $1 million in shark patrol funding. In addition to the obvious community safety outcomes, the extension of the service provides students and graduates of the UniSA Aviation Academy the opportunity to gain valuable flying and surveillance experience under operational conditions. While the extension of shark patrols will go some way to addressing public confidence, people must continue to be responsible for their own safety. While shark sightings have been rare so far this month, the state government prefers to err on the side of caution.

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