Govt open to law change to kill Qld sharks
Sonia KohlbacherAAP
Thu, 19 September 2019 3:44PM
Camera IconQueensland wants the Commonwealth to allow it to continue baiting and killing Barrier Reef sharks.
The federal government is considering changing the law so Queensland's government can continue baiting and killing sharks at the Great Barrier Reef.
It comes after the state government lost a Federal Court appeal for the right to use baited hooks to catch and then shoot dead 19 shark species on the world's biggest coral reef.
"We fought this in the courts because we simply believe that human life must be prioritised over the lives of sharks," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament on Thursday.
"The decision effectively means that the program would become a catch and release program within the marine park."
Her government has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government to do something.
"Legislative change at a federal level will be considered for the medium to long term," federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said in a statement.
The Queensland government catches and releases shark species it doesn't want to hook, along with other marine life that get caught, like stingrays.
Those it does want to catch are then shot.
But the court decision would mean having to tag and release them if they are caught in the Great Barrier Reef.
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner says staff don't have the capabilities or training to do that.
He does say the baited hooks discourage some sharks.
"Those that are residential, it is a strong deterrent for them to not return to that location," he told reporters on Thursday.
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal found there was no evidence the policy prevented attacks on people, despite the government arguing it does.
"I can rely on the proof since 1962 there's been one fatality, that says it all to me," Mr Furner said in response.
The state government will now remove hooks from 27 beaches in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Marine campaigners say the court decision is a win for wildlife, while Mr Furner said he would be briefed by his department about what to do if the policy is challenged at other coastal locations.
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