The furore about shark nets and drum lines is amazing. We expect governments to keep us safe. Figures show that shark nets work.

There have been 45 shark attacks at unprotected NSW and Queensland beaches in the last 100 years, but only two at beaches with protection.

Only two attacks have occurred at beaches with nets or drumlines. Is that all the evidence we need?

The Greens-led Senate enquiry wants to save sharks. Whereas a traditional shark net costs about $50,000 per beach, they want “smart drumlines” which emit a signal when a shark is caught in the line.

A team then rushes out to release the shark and move it further offshore! This is surely fantasy stuff.   

A six month trial at just four locations will cost $1.16 million!  We can only guess at the total cost of The Greens’ proposal if we were to “protect” all the sharks with their expensive option.

Which do you love most, sharks or whales? Crossing The Nullarbor a few years ago we spent some time at Head of Bight, a truly wonderful place to visit from about July to early October.

Just below the boardwalk you can see the baby whales frolicking with their mothers. It is an inspiring sight.

At Head of Bight there is a nice cafe. We were having morning tea when I struck up a conversation with the Aboriginal ranger.

I asked about the recent spate of shark fatalities in Western Australia, and whether the sharks ever came into the whale hatchery.

“We don’t talk about it, but when the whales leave for their northern migration, the water runs red. Sharks gather to slaughter the young whales once they reach the ocean,“ he said.

Does the lack of a shark cull mean young whales eaten in October, then us in summer?

Then there was the case near Cairns where the old lady wandered away from her home and was eaten by a crocodile.

The offending killer was shot. Decisive action. Note that the crocodile was shot only after it had attacked a person.

When a crocodile appeared on a popular Cairns beach where it could have eaten any number of children, the greenies came out in support of the crocodile, not the children! If it had eaten a child, maybe then, and only then, would authorities have taken decisive action.

The magpies that live about a hundred metres from our back door now bring their mature young chicks to be fed kangaroo mince each morning. We’ve never had a problem with magpies. They eat grubs from our lawn and chortle in the gum trees. They are pleasant company.

Our magpies triggered a story from a nervous Christmas visitor. Their outer metropolitan school arranged to have a “nuisance" magpie shot after school “as a precaution”. My visitors agreed that it was the sensible solution.

Here’s the contrast: Many would agree it’s fine to shoot a magpie, which may hurt but doesn’t kill. We euthanise thousands of cats and dogs each year. But when it comes to controlling sharks and crocodiles we lack the ability to take adequate precautions.

Sharks and crocodiles are not anyone’s friends. We need sensible policies that place human lives ahead of killers.

Keith Wheeler