Premier Mike Baird has unveiled his second policy back-down in as many days, announcing he will pursue a trial of shark nets across beaches in northern NSW.
The NSW government has resisted introduction of shark nets in favour of high-tech "smart drum lines" – a decision that has led to accusations Mr Baird is overly concerned with shark welfare.
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Shark attacks surfer near Ballina
A 25-year-old surfer took himself to hospital after being bitten on the leg by a shark at Sharpes Beach near Ballina on the NSW North Coast.
Smart drum lines use GPS technology to alert Department of Primary Industries scientists when a shark is caught.
A decision to deploy 100 drum lines along north coast beaches was announced by Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair two weeks ago after 17-year-old surfer Cooper Allen was attacked off Lighthouse Beach in Ballina by a 3.5m great white shark.
But after a shark attack at Sharpes Beach near Ballin, on Wednesday, Mr Baird said: "Ultimately we get to the point where we have to prioritise human life over everything".
"So we will be writing to the federal government asking for a six-month trial of nets on those north coast beaches."
Mr Baird said smart drum lines would remain in place.
Mr Blair said "two incidents in the last two weeks ... means we need to have a look at other measures to add to the suite of technologies and protections we have on the north coast".
He said the trial would be financed out of the government's $16 million shark mitigation strategy - which includes aerial surveillance - and expected the nets, if approved, to be "in the water as soon as possible".
The trial will be assessed by PhD students already involved with the existing five year shark mitigation program.
But Alexia Wellbelove, senior program manager with Humane Society International, said the announcement was "extremely disappointing".
Ms Wellbelove said even a six-month trial of shark nets "could be quite significant".
"If the critically endangered grey nurse shark, particularly a female, is caught in the nets it would have a significant impact on that population. The loss of just a couple of females is potentially devastating."
Greens marine and fisheries spokesman Justin Field said the trial "will kill the marine life that we love in NSW".
Greens MP for Ballina Tamara Smith, said there has been "a lot of fear that has led to people thinking this is going to be a silver bullet" but that there is no scientific evidence for that.
In the Wednesday attack, a 25-year-old man was taken to Ballina hospital with what police described as "a small wound to his right lower leg".
In response, all beaches in Ballina Shire were closed for 24 hours.
Mr Baird's announcement comes a day after he declared he was "wrong" to have closed down greyhound racing in NSW from next year and reversed the move. A spokesman said Mr Baird has never ruled out expanding shark nets.