Queensland

Veronicas singer sinks teeth into Susie O'Neill over sharks

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It was an apology, of sorts, from one half of Aussie pop act the Veronicas after calling swimming legend Susie O'Neill a f---ing moron.

After controversially slamming the Olympic gold medallist for supporting shark nets and appearing to espouse culling, proud animal rights activist Jessica Origliasso said sorry for any offence but didn't back down.

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Susie a 'f...ing moron': Veronicas

Swim champ Susie O'Neill confronts Jess from The Veronicas on Nova, saying she is "hurt" at being labelled a 'f...ing moron" over shark cull comments.

Appearing on Brisbane radio station Nova on Friday morning, apparently in response to hurt feelings from the station that supported her and sister Lisa's music, said she really liked "Madame Butterfly" but maintained she was "incredibly uninformed".

The not-quite reconciliation took place after a series of tweets from Origliasso on Thursday, the day before the Veronicas launched new single On Your Side left O'Neill, feeling "a bit hurt".

Susie O'Neill had been leading a discussion about shark nets, and asked listeners for their thoughts on culling.
Susie O'Neill had been leading a discussion about shark nets, and asked listeners for their thoughts on culling. 
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On Thursday, the swimmer was leading a discussion about shark attacks, their effects on tourism and what could be done to protect against them and had asked for people's thoughts on culling.

"I said maybe we should cull the sharks like they used to. Not all of them but a certain proportion of them to keep the numbers down, like they do with, well, it's probably an ignorant comment as well, the crocodiles," she explained on Friday.

The Veronicas, Lisa and Jessica Origliasso. Jess has apologised to O'Neill but not backed down.
The Veronicas, Lisa and Jessica Origliasso. Jess has apologised to O'Neill but not backed down. Photo: Jessica Hromas

The singer, who came out heavily against shark nets as well, called in to patch things up but the pair didn't exactly come out of the chat as besties.

"I apologise publicly if you felt like I was assaulting you," the pop star said.

"I was not at all trying to assault or insult you.

"I was insulting your perspective, your very uninformed perspective, and I would love to get breakfast and talk about it further because I believe this is a very important issue and I'm certain that after talking to you about alternatives you will see and all of you guys will see that we can protect sharks and people at the same time with alternative measures."

A second surfer in two weeks was attacked by a shark near the NSW north coast town of Ballina on Thursday, again kicking off debate over shark nets.

The nets killed about 600 sharks in Queensland in 2014 but Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has offered to help install them in northern NSW.


"We've had shark nets in Queensland. We don't have shark attacks here," O'Neill said.

"And I think people being able to go in the ocean, for me, is a big positive for our country and for me I worry that in Ballina and in Margaret River as well to be honest, if people can't go in the water."

Origliasso clarified her tweets later on Thursday to say she wasn't targeting the station itself.