This was published 7 years ago
Protesters confront Mike Baird over Ballina shark net installation
By Josh Dye
A man dressed as a hammerhead shark tried to throw a net over NSW Premier Mike Baird as tensions boiled over in Ballina after the installation of the first shark nets in the region.
Conservationists confronted Mr Baird and protested against his announcement of the prevention measure.
Local marine conservationist Dean Jefferys, dressed in a shark costume, tried to cover Mr Baird in the net as he entered his car, an incident filmed by an ABC reporter.
After being questioned by police, Mr Jefferys told Fairfax Media he "wanted the Premier to realise what it's like for marine life to be caught in a net. I think he got a little taste of that today."
A protester attempts to net Premier Mike Baird in Ballina after the instalment of the first shark net on the North Coast.Credit: Natalie Grono
"I would have loved to completely wrap him up in the net so he could have a taste of what it was like.
"I think he'll probably have some strange dreams tonight and wonder whether he's doing the right thing putting out these nets in this pristine area that's really full of diverse wildlife," Mr Jefferys said.
A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed police spoke to the man but said no further action was expected.
On Friday, the first of five shark nets were deployed at beaches around Ballina for a six-month trial.
Protesters in Ballina confronted NSW Premier Mike Baird as shark nets were deployed.Credit: Rochelle Ferris
The controversial move was approved by the federal government after the legislation was rushed through State Parliament following a spate of recent shark attacks along the NSW North Coast.
Mr Baird acknowledged the decision was unpopular among conservationists, but said community sentiment was changing.
"We are responding to a big shift in community support in favour of nets so they will be trialled off five North Coast beaches over the next six months," Mr Baird said.
The move has sparked anger among green groups who say the nets entangle and kill other sea creatures. Last month a whale calf had to be rescued after being caught in a shark net on the Gold Coast.
Mr Jefferys said the nets did not work and accused Mr Baird of pandering to "ill-informed surfers, noisy locals and business operators".
"Shark nets are purely cosmetic to convince tourists and locals they are safe," he wrote on Facebook. "There is no scientific evidence that the shark nets actually make swimmers safer. Sharks can swim over, under and around the nets."
A Department of Primary Industries report supports Mr Jefferys' claim.
It says 40 per cent of sharks are caught on the beach side of the nets, "because sharks are able to swim over and around the nets".
Mr Baird said that, despite the protesters, the trial was needed to improve safety after the spike in attacks.
"As you can see, I am not sure they are happy with it," Mr Baird said, as protesters chanted in the background.
"But what we have to do is make sure we have the best and the safest beaches we possibly can. Ultimately, we have done what we can in terms of protecting marine life but our number one priority is protection of human life."
Humane Society International's senior program manager, Alexia Wellbelove, said: "The introduction of shark nets in northern NSW is a very disappointing outcome.
"HSI has been very supportive of the NSW government's efforts to trial non-lethal alternatives as part of their shark management strategy and we continue to strongly believe that the introduction of nets is a retrograde step in efforts to better protect ocean users from the small risk of coming into contact with sharks."
Shark nets have been in place at beaches in Sydney since 1937, and at beaches in Wollongong and Newcastle since 1949.
With AAP