Editorial: Swimmers before sharks

EDITORIAL: Spring is here and that means hot summer days at the beach are not far off. But with the warmer weather comes the threat of shark attacks.

THE days are getting tantalisingly longer and the spring sun is working itself up to put winter, finally, down for the count. Which means that for NSW, hot summer days at the beach are not far off. But with the warmer weather comes the threat of shark attacks — as well as the hue and cry of green-tinged activists who think those menaces of the deep should be free to do their worst and monster surfers and swimmers alike because of some odd beliefs about ecological justice.

Fortunately for the rest of us, saner heads have prevailed. ­According to a report in The Daily Telegraph today, shark nets will again be laid along the NSW north coast in time for summer. This mirrors a program last year that saw previous years’ horror spates of attacks reduced to zero in the region.

A 2.35m male great white shark caught on SMART drumlines at Main Beach, Evans Head, in northern NSW, on July 21, 2017. Picture: Supplied

It’s a welcome bit of common sense coming after NSW’s terrible 2015, which saw 14 shark attacks followed by eight last year. Those who venture into the water this year will enjoy an added measure of confidence from Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair’s announcement that along with nets, which will be deployed in early November, 25 smart drumlines as well as helicopter and drone patrols will be in force to keep them safe. Along the south coast, which appears less prone to shark ­attacks, there will also be a further placement of drumlines in time for summer.

For those who stay on dry land, the benefits will also be tangible. More shark attacks mean less tourism, which is a ­direct threat to beach communities that rely on the annual ­influx of tourists. Last year’s trial of the shark nets saw many businesses reporting an uptick in visitor numbers with North Coast Parliamentary Secretary Ben Franklin telling The Daily Telegraph that “beaches are ­filling up again”.

There is still some way to go before NSW can truly be said to have a shark policy that is environmentally sensitive while putting people first, which should be the ultimate goal of governments. Certainly much will ride on the results of a CSIRO study into great white numbers which may see their “vulnerable and threatened” status reconsidered.

That said, the Berejiklian government is to be congratulated for continuing a successful program launched by Mike Baird to keep our beaches and beach communities thriving this summer. Surf’s up!

DON’T STOP THE PRESSES YET

PRINT is dead? Not so fast. While it’s long been fashionable for media pundits to say that in this interconnected world of smartphones and tablets, newsprint is a dying medium, those with skin in the game say differently.

Gerry Harvey, chairman of the retail juggernaut Harvey Norman, has told The Daily Telegraph that advertising in newspapers such as this one means they “get a result”. And those results are pretty good: Harvey’s comments came on the back of news Harvey Norman posted a record before-tax net profit of $639.91 million, up 26.3 per cent on the previous year.

TAKE THE TIME TO BE A DAD

DADS too often get a bad rap in our society, on the one hand told to be involved and caring and active parents, while often being portrayed as either bumbling or distant.

But with Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, it’s time once again to think about what being a dad is all about — and how the fathers among us can do a better job.

Former NSW premier Mike Baird with his daughter Laura, son-in-law Levi Baker and wife Kerryn at Laura and Levi’s recent wedding. Picture: James Day

Weighing in on the subject is former premier Mike Baird, who is today being honoured as ­Father of the Year 2017 by the Shepherd Centre. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Baird, who left his job at the helm of NSW to take a position as a high-flying executive with NAB, said that he regrets not being there enough for his kids when they were little because he was so consumed with his career.

“My strong advice would be to not do what I did and to take the time,” Baird told this newspaper, while admitting that ­although “humbled” by the ­accolades, he’s “very undeserving” of such an honour. “(Having a child) is truly one of life’s most incredible moments and you want to make it last as long as you possibly can.”

Sound advice from someone who’s been there.