Premier Chris Minns has ruled out completely getting rid of shark nets, which have been set up annually for more than eight decades at beaches spanning from Wollongong to Newcastle.

He emphasised safety was the government's priority and an incremental approach was needed as alternate technology, such as smart drumlines, was rolled out.
"I've got to be comfortable that technology is good enough to be brought in at scale and I'm not prepared to make that call this year," he told reporters.

But Mr Minns noted the use of nets was relatively rare outside NSW, pointing out that both Victoria and South Australia did not use shark nets.

"Shark nets don't exist in California, in Hawaii, in Florida, in any of the other major surfing destinations around the world," he said.

Source: Illawarra Mercury

FACT CHECK: Shark Nets were recently shown not to make beaches any safer, in an article co-authored by NSW Government scientists "We could not detect differences in the interaction rate at netted versus non-netted beaches" (Shifts in the incidence of shark bites and efficacy of beach-focussed mitigation in Australia, 2024)