Tourist operators have warned of danger of sharks in Whitsundays

THE LNP have attacked the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to hold a roundtable meeting on the recent shark attacks in north Queensland.

THE LNP have attacked the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to hold a roundtable meeting on the recent shark attacks, describing it as “borderline negligent”.

The government confirmed today it would meet with stakeholders in the Whitsundays to find a long-term solution to Cid Harbour’s shark woes, while ruling out drumlines and shark nets for the time being.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the Government needed to explain why the Whitsundays was one of the few areas along the Queensland coast where there were no shark nets or drumlines.

“So it is borderline negligent that Annastacia Palaszczuk’s only response to these terrible events in the Whitsundays is to call a meeting,” she said.

“I once again repeat my call for drum lines to be immediately installed at Cid Harbour and for a full parliamentary inquiry into Labor’s maladministration of Queensland’s shark control program.”

Tourism operators in the area were warning travellers about the dangers of sharks in the Whitsundays weeks before Monday’s tragic attack.

After two attacks at the picturesque locale in September, the region’s tourism operators ramped up warnings to guests about the dangers of sharks in the area.

State Tourism Minister Kate Jones said local operators had warned tourists about Cid Harbour.

“Local charter operators have already been active in telling anyone hiring a boat that no one should swim in Cid Harbour,” she said.

Cid Harbour was almost deserted following another shark attack. Picture: Daryl Wright

“As well as new signs we will also work on other ways of getting the message to tourists and boaties.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief Daniel Gschwind said operators had “explicitly” included shark warnings in guest briefings since two visitors were mauled in September.

He said tourism operators were committed to ensuring the safety of their guests.

“Caring for our visitors is the main purpose for our existence,” he said.

Few things strike as much fear in to the hearts of potential tourists as shark attacks.

WA’s tourism industry has been rocked by shark attacks on Australia’s west coast, while Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean has taken the radical step of making swimming and surfing illegal at all but two netted beaches after a spate of fatalities crippled the island’s tourism trade.

Mr Gschwind said it was too early to talk about what damage the spate of Cid Harbour attacks was doing to the Queensland industry, but conceded it was not good.

“It’s not how we want to find ourselves making international headlines,” he said.

“Sharks create a sense of primordial fear which can certainly have an impact.

“Clearly, this has been a terrible tragedy and what matters now is how we respond to this.”

Tourism Whitsundays chief Natassia Wheeler also said it was too soon to speculate about the damage to the region’s tourism reputation.