Former PM Tony Abbott calls for shark cull after Ballina attack

FORMER Prime Minister and regular Sydney surfer Tony Abbott has called on the state government to authorise shark culls and put shark nets in off northern NSW beaches.

Tony Abbott and Mike Baird have a surf the day before the election at North Steyne. Picture: Braden Fastier

• SHARK ATTACK TEEN’S HORROR BITE MARKS
• TEEN ATTACKED BY GREAT WHITE DURING MORNING SURF

FORMER Prime Minister and regular Sydney surfer Tony Abbott has called on the state government to authorise shark culls and put shark nets in off northern NSW beaches.

The comments come in the wake of teenage surfer Cooper Allen who was attacked by a great white shark off Ballina yesterday.

Cooper, 17, received horrific leg wounds after he was mauled while surfing with friends at Lighthouse Beach yesterday morning.

Teenage surfer Cooper Allen was attacked by a 4m great white shark at Lighthouse Beach in Ballina yesterday. Picture: Instagram

Allen received horrific leg injuries in the attack but was lucky to escape with his life. Picture: Twitter - Amanda Abate

“I don’t know why we don’t have a commercial shark fishery up there because, frankly, if it’s a choice between people and animals, I’m on the side of the people every time,’’ he told Radio 3AW.

Mr Abbott said there was a double standard across the NSW coastline.

“I’m lucky to surf at Sydney beaches and beaches in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong since the 1940s have been protected by mesh; now if it’s good enough for Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, for the life of me, I don’t know why it’s not good enough for the north coast of NSW.”

Mr Abbott, who is a close friend of NSW Premier Mike Baird, regularly surfs at Manly beach.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk offered to extend her state’s successful shark drum lines and nets into northern NSW.

Sharks spotted after the attack in Ballina yesterday.

Lighthouse Beach was closed after the attack. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“We have the technology, we have the skills,” Ms Palaszczuk said. The premier said she was concerned about the increased visitor numbers to the notorious stretch of coastline coming up to the Christmas holidays. “I think the NSW government has tried other methods, they have not been found to be working,” she said.

She said there had only been one shark fatality in Queensland - off Amity Point - since 1960.

But Ms Palaszczuk said if Mr Baird took her up on the offer, the NSW government would need to pay for the extension.