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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-02-05 Daily Xml
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Shark Attacks

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:30): The start of this year saw a tragedy which has significantly impacted the community of Streaky Bay and the wider Eyre Peninsula, indeed communities across the state, especially the tightly-knit surfing community, with a devastating shark attack resulting in the death of Lance Appleby, a much-loved and respected young man. I wish to in this place express my condolences and love to the Appleby family, Lance's parents and many siblings, during what I know has been an unthinkably devastating time, and also to those who loved Lance across the surfing community, Streaky Bay, Eyre Peninsula and beyond. Our hearts really do go out to you at this incredibly difficult time.

Unfortunately, it is not the first time such a tragic experience has hit the community, and I also want to acknowledge and remember other recent victims of shark attacks: Simon Baccanello, who was killed while surfing at Walkers Rock near Elliston in May 2023; Tod Gendle, who was killed while surfing at Granites beach near Streaky Bay in October 2023; and following that, only a month later, Khai Cowley, who was killed at Ethel Wreck on Yorke Peninsula. These are absolutely devastating tragedies for the community, especially the surfing community.

Events like this should trigger attention from decision-makers. In the last two years, I have been speaking with community leaders, emergency services, and swimming and surfing communities across my electorate and taking their suggestions. The time for action is here. I welcomed last year's announcement from the government about a shark task force, under the proviso that there was actually action which came from it, unlike many of the similar announcements that have come.

Unfortunately, we are yet to see any action from this task force, and it is beginning to frustrate my community. Some money has gone into patrolling metropolitan beaches, but for my regional communities, where these attacks actually happen, it is also a frustration, which I am sure the minister is hearing all about.

I hear all the public discussions, the same sorts of comments that 'We are swimming in their backyards,' or 'There are always sharks in the sea,' or 'They should know the risks.' I understand all this, and I hear that—and you know, surfers understand this as well. They understand there are risks to chasing the thrill of the surf, but I am all about practical action, practical outcomes and keeping our communities as safe as possible, so reflecting on what I have heard from my community and with a mind to be proactive, I am putting forward a five-point priority plan, which I am asking the government to consider as priority areas for shark mitigation and management.

No. 1 is about prevention. We need investment into robust communications, warning systems and signage, especially at key beaches and surf spots around our state, especially in our far-flung areas, an interactive warning system which can be adjusted upon sharks being sighted. Surfers locally could point to the beaches in each area, whether it is Port Lincoln, Elliston, Streaky Bay, the Far West or Yorke Peninsula, where these sorts of signages can be put in place.

No. 2 is about response. We need government investment into shark emergency response and shark first-aid kits. In speaking with emergency response workers and volunteers who have had to deal with these situations, it is clear that they are not appropriately equipped to deal with such challenges. The government needs to be talking to people like this who have this experience. Investment into boat or jet ski capacity in regional areas is an option, or to have in place a system where there can be a cohort of trusted and equipped community members who can be called on without the heavy burden of bureaucracy as a hindrance.

We have also seen the District Council of Elliston investing their own funds to install shark response first-aid kits at targeted surfing hotspots. This is the sort of thing that the government should be considering investing into.

No. 3 is a shark-deterrent rebate. We see something like this in Western Australia: a rebate system in place for scientifically proven shark-deterrent devices able to be worn and utilised by surfers, divers and swimmers to keep them safe.

No. 4 is investment into great white shark tagging and monitoring. Once again, we see significant investment interstate into tagging and monitoring. How can we effectively know about shark movements without this type of monitoring in place in South Australia?

No. 5 is the development of a shark app system. Once again, there are lessons that can be learned from interstate. Something we have seen is that both Western Australia and New South Wales have such capacity, and our government should be considering it too.

These are just five areas in which I believe there can be agreement and swift action from government, with targeted investment. It is not touching on other areas in which I know there will need to be a continued community conversation on topics such as exclusion zones for swimming and surfing, the use of baits, traps, lures or berlying close to recreational areas, or longer-term research investment. These are complex situations with significant impacts, but I am calling on the government to consider these five points that I am putting forward for immediate action, to help mitigate some of the risk of these tragic situations being repeated in regional South Australia.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Brown): Order! The member's time has expired.

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