Australian Politics
Calls for shark nets to be removed at Australia's busiest beaches - just months after a man was mauled to death by a shark while swimming
This is an old issue. The Green/Left care more about animal lives than human lives. So even sharks they don't like killing. The talk below is about higher tech instead of trapping them but why not do both?
A mayor has led calls for shark nets to be removed from Sydney's world-famous beaches this summer to protect marine life, just months after a man was mauled to death.
Waverley mayor Paula Masselos has divided opinion on her push for beaches in Sydney's east to go without nets this summer, including Bondi Beach.
Beaches will be without shark nets for the first time since they were introduced 85 years ago if the mayor gets her way.
The calls come six months after former British RAF engineer Simon Nellist was mauled to death in front of horrified beachgoers at nearby Little Bay by a 4.5metre great white shark during his daily swim.
It was Sydney's first fatal shark attack in 60 years and prompted the Department of Primary Industries to install 15 SMART drumlines from Little Bay to Bondi.
More than 50 nets are usually installed along beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong from September to April.
But Cr Masselos said locals are 'very concerned about the bycatch' getting caught in shark nets and argued they're ineffective.
'Shark nets are only 150m long. They're 6m high and set at a depth of about 10m. They're not there to actually create a barrier between swimmers and sharks, but they sort of help disrupt some of the swimming patterns,' she told the Today show on Thursday.
'We actually often see sharks on the inside of the shark nets. When you look at Bondi, it is actually a kilometre long. So the shark net isn't creating a huge barrier at all.
I think it's actually creating a false sense of safety. There are other technologies like smart drumlines and aerial surveillance that are far more effective in spotting sharks and advising people.'
She understands beachgoers' concerns but argued shark nets were old technology.
'We're driven by the science and the data and we believe that there are far better ways of actually keeping our community safe, because we take that responsibility very, very seriously,' Cr Masselos added.
'I'm an ocean swimmer myself. I totally understand the issue and people's concerns.
'Shark nets are very old technology. They were first introduced in 1937. We're in the 21st century now. I believe we can do much, much better.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11121359/Calls-shark-nets-removed-Sydneys-Bondi-Beach.html
******************************************************How Australia got Covid WRONG: Top doctor reveals the major mistakes made during the pandemic that robbed us of our freedom
Discussing the matter on the Today show, the former deputy chief medical officer defended Mr Morrison, arguing some state leaders made worse decisions.
'Yes, he erred with not telling the community and cabinet about his five portfolio authority, but Scott Morrison didn't shut down playgrounds,' Dr Coatsworth said on Monday.
'Scott Morrison didn't issue fines to children for crimes against disease control, and Scott Morrison didn't shut down two towers full of refugee and migrant Australians.
'There were very real democratic rights that were trammelled in the course of this pandemic.'
Around 3,000 Victorian residents across nine public housing towers in Melbourne were thrusted into a hard lockdown in July 2020 in response to Covid outbreaks.
Over the following 12 months, around 500 children under 15 in NSW were fined a total of $20,000 for not wearing face masks.
Dr Coatsworth said Labor will likely proceed with the commission as promised during the election, but fears it will be used as an opportunity to point blame at the former federal government rather than focusing on key issues, such as violations of rights.
Under public health principle, Dr Coatsworth said authorities should implement the least restrictive interventions to achieve disease control. 'If we start with that principle [at the Royal Commission], we will get the right answers,' he said.
'I'm absolutely crystal clear on where the focus needs to be at this Royal Commission and I'm just not confident that the current Prime Minister has the same level of clarity.'
Dr Coatsworth said current narratives about Australia's Covid response emphasise the federal government's shortcomings, such as the vaccine rollout, while downplaying state leadership issues - both of which he says are 'simply not true'.
'We by and large did well, but the real problem with this pandemic was when our rights as individuals were trammelled upon for too long,' he said.
'The focus needs to be on states and territories. They are the ones who had the major disease control powers.
'Of course the federal government needs to come under scrutiny, but I fear the way we are hearing scrutiny at the moment, that that scrutiny would be unfair and unbalanced and focused more on the federal government than the states.'
Announcing the commission, Mr Albanese said it was important to assess the roles of different governments in the decisions made during the pandemic.
'Clearly you need to look at the response of all governments ... the different jurisdictions,' the prime minister told Sky News on Sunday.
'The pandemic exposed (the fact that) some of the issues with our federation can often be quite difficult with overlapping responsibilities.'
Mr Albanese said he could not envisage a circumstance where a once-in-a-century global pandemic and in response, the largest economic stimulus Australia had seen, was not evaluated.
An investigation would make sure governments learned how things could have been improved and what lessons could be learned.
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Clive Palmer breaks silence on coal mine refusal
Mining magnate Clive Palmer has broken his silence on the Albanese Government moving to knock back his proposed central Queensland coal mine, accusing Labor of being “irrational” and “captured by the Greens”.
Mr Palmer’s Central Queensland Coal Project, located 130km northwest of Rockhampton, was expected to create $8.2 billion in export from thermal and metallurgical coal.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek earlier this month issued a preliminary refusal of approval for the project due to it being just 10km from the Great Barrier Reef, with a 10 business day public comment period required before being finalised.
That period ended on Thursday evening and a spokesman for Mr Palmer confirmed his company had made a submission.
But in a statement on Sunday morning, Mr Palmer claimed it was “the first time in Australian history” a coal mine in central Queensland had been refused approval.
He said it showed the Greens were running the government.
Greens leader Adam Bandt says new coal and gas projects will not only make the “climate crisis worse,” but they can also “blow any chance” of Australia meeting the government’s “weak targets”. The Albanese government will introduce several…
“To reject $80 billion shows economic irresponsibility,’’ Mr Palmer said.
“Especially so when the entire production was destined for export markets and the alternative is the replacement in the market of inferior Indonesian coal which will result in three times greater emissions than what would have been the case with our coal.
“It’s clear the Albanese Government is irrational and is captured by Adam Bant and The Greens.”
He seemed to attempt to link the situation with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison having issued himself five secret portfolios by asking “how many secret portfolios has (Mr Albanese) given to (Greens leader) Adam Bandt”.
There is no indication Mr Albanese has issued any “secret portfolios” and he has strongly condemned the actions of Mr Morrison in doing so.
The Greens are continuing to push for a ban on new coal mines and coal-fired power stations.
Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Senator Nita Green said Mr Palmer had to pass the same environmental approvals as anyone else, and refuted the billionaire’s claims that Labor was “captured by the Greens”.
“I have not seen the reasons for the proposed decision, but I am fully aware that poor water quality is an ongoing risk to the Reef and the jobs it supports. It’s up to any proponent to show how they can mitigate such risks,” Senator Green said.
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Asset Energy in push to overturn block on PEP-11 gas exploration permit
Asset Energy will lobby Anthony Albanese and Dominic Perrottet to overturn Scott Morrison’s unprecedented refusal to proceed with its offshore NSW gas project, pledging to direct all reserves to the domestic market and address forecast gas shortfalls.
The company is challenging Mr Morrison’s role in scuttling its PEP-11 exploration permit off the coast of Newcastle in the Federal Court amid revelations he was granted powers by Governor-General David Hurley to overrule then resources minister Keith Pitt.
Court documents show the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator provided advice in April 2020 for the federal-NSW joint authority, which Mr Morrison led from April 2021, to “approve the application”.
The documents reveal that on April 15 last year Mr Hurley handed Mr Morrison administrative powers over the entire Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
Mr Morrison, under pressure from Liberal MPs and candidates facing threats from teal independents and Labor in seats between Sydney and Newcastle, claimed authority over the PEP-11 decision from Mr Pitt, who had indicated he would approve the permit.
After making public statements between March and December last year pledging to block the project, Mr Morrison and the joint authority formally rejected the offshore exploration permit in March, weeks ahead of the election campaign.
Letters obtained by The Australian between Asset executive director David Breeze and NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole reveal the company has asked the state government to reconsider the decision to block its gas exploration plans 30km off Newcastle.
Mr Toole told Mr Breeze last month that “while global events may be impacting on gas supply in Australia”, the NSW government would not change its opposition to offshore exploration and mining.
“Regarding the issues you have raised in relation to PEP-11 and the decision of the former prime minister and joint authority, it is not appropriate that I provide any comment on the matter while it remains before the courts,” Mr Toole wrote.
In his letter to Mr Perrottet, which was passed on to Mr Toole, Mr Breeze asked the Premier to allow “limited, safe and sustainable activity”.
“In light of significantly changed circumstances in the international energy market in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the prospect of sustained higher energy prices and imminent gas shortages in Australia, we would ask you reconsider,” Mr Breeze wrote.
The Perrottet government, which faces a tough election fight in March, has moved aggressively away from fossil fuels and towards renewables under the leadership of Energy Minister Matt Kean.
A spokesman for federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said the government would consider its legal options if the Federal Court found Mr Morrison “may not have made this decision according to law”.
“The Albanese government respects the rule of law and role of the independent judiciary in Australia,” Ms King’s spokesman said.
“If the courts find that the former prime minister, Scott Morrison, who personally made this decision, may not have made this decision according to law, then the government will work to find a legal solution to this issue.”
Mr Breeze told The Australian on Monday that the project had the potential to supply 20 years’ worth of gas for NSW.
“We acknowledge the widespread discussion around the potential impacts of gas exploration and future production, including in PEP-11,” Mr Breeze said.
Deputy Nationals Leader Perin Davey says she doesn’t understand why former prime minister Scott Morrison took…
“But all too often that discussion is distorted by false and exaggerated claims and ignores the long track record of Australia’s offshore petroleum industry and the ongoing need for gas to meet power generation, industry, and domestic demand.
“Our project can be advanced in a safe and sustainable manner that will protect the environment and deliver gas to the domestic market.”
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Also see my other blogs. Main ones below:
http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM -- daily)
http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)
http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)
http://edwatch.blogspot.com (EDUCATION WATCH)
http://snorphty.blogspot.com/ (TONGUE-TIED)
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Evelyn Rae, a conservative Australian political commentator
Margo Robbie -- a beautiful australian
My son Joe at ANU
One of the happiest pictures ever -- Cleo Smith, aged 4
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