Question on Notice 695/2026: Shark barrier trials

Topic

Shark barrier trials

Question

With reference to the proposal for shark barrier trials in North Queensland which was abandoned in 2022— Will the Minister advise (a) what was the basis, including any engineering calculations, for the site selection criteria listed in the Shark Barrier Trial Preliminary Site Assessment, (b) did the trial fail to proceed without community education or sentiment surveys, primarily due to a lack of support from one Councillor, acting as delegate for the Cairns Regional Council, (c) has the attractive effect of drumlines (i.e. through baiting or depredation), which are currently deployed in Cairns, been assessed as part of the risk assessment for potential shark barriers and (d) what plans does the government have to further progress such trials?

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