The Australian Greens have called for Environment Minister Greg Hunt to revoke the exemption that is allowing the WA shark cull to go ahead.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson will tonight address the Senate on the catch and kill policy, and will move a motion tomorrow that condemns the cull and calls on Minister Hunt to revoke the exemption.
The Australian Greens said today it is unbelievable that sharks caught through the WA Government's appalling drum line policy are not being tagged before their release.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on marine issues has called on WA Premier Colin Barnett to order the immediate tagging of any shark caught and released from drum lines off Perth or the South West.
"The Government clearly isn't interested in learning more about sharks. If it was it would be ensuring these sharks are tagged," Senator Siewert said today.
The Australian Greens have blasted the Abbott Government for exempting a proposed cull of sharks in WA waters, saying it makes a mockery of environmental laws.
"The Minister has basically approved the indiscriminate killing of great white sharks. If this is the Abbott Government's benchmark for protection of nationally protected species woe betide Australia," Greens National Marine Spokesperson, WA Senator Rachel Siewert said.
"The Greens will challenge this decision when Parliament resumes."
The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion calling on the Federal Government to increase shark research and maintain protections for Great Whites in the face of culling threats from Western Australia.
"I welcome the Senate's decision to back my motion. This sends a clear message to the WA and Federal Governments that now is not the time for knee-jerk policy making that will have a potentially significant impact on sharks and our wider marine environment," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.
Australian Greens spokesperson on marine and fisheries issues, Senator Rachel Siewert, has asked the Federal Government to look at the WA Government proposal to destroy sharks off WA’s coast.
“I have written to the Federal Environment Minister, Mr Burke about this issue, given the considerable actions being proposed by the WA Government,” Senator Siewert said today.