The Minns government’s response to the most recent shark attack in Sydney is to spend an additional $34 million on shark-spotting drones, largely for Sydney beaches, as part of a $120 million shark mitigation program.
The Greens too have called for more federal funding on ‘shark mitigation’. What could be their motives?
The Australian Shark Incident Database (ASID) recorded ten incidents in NSW in FY 2025, including two fatalities and six injured.
On the other hand, Royal Life Saving Australia recorded 129 drownings in NSW in FY 2025, of which 19 per cent (24 or 25) occurred on beaches.
If governments wanted to save lives, then they could focus on drownings more so than sharks.
Yes, but people fear sharks and politicians often exploit fear to further their political goals. In my view, the Minns government is shamelessly spending $34 million of taxpayers’ money (our money) to curry favour with Sydney electorates.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
