WA shark attacks put Cook Government’s $35m safety strategy under the microscope

Two fatal shark attacks in just three weeks have plunged WA’s shark mitigation strategy back into the political spotlight, as the State Government scrambles to replace vital safety gear missing from local shelves.

The Cook Government is in advanced talks with a new supplier to bolster its $200 shark deterrent rebate program, following the collapse of a key manufacturer.

Since 2017, the scheme has handed out 9500 rebates to WA residents who have purchased deterrents. But the voluntary administration of Ocean Guardian in 2024 stripped two approved devices from the market, leaving the RPELA v2 surf device as the only scientifically-proven option available.

Now, a State Government spokesperson has confirmed a new product is on the way, with pre-orders open for a mid-September rollout.

“A new manufacturer, Coastal Agencies Australia, plan to release the Sentinel Ocean Systems Freedom8 dive product,” the spokesperson said.

“The Freedom8 product uses the identical technology as the Ocean Guardian FREEDOM7 (formerly Shark Shield) dive device.”

Independent testing shows it slashes the probability of a shark bite from 75 per cent down to just 25 per cent.

It comes following the tragic death of 35-year-old Daniel Turpin while spearfishing off Albany’s Michaelmas Island.

An investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding his death is still underway by the coroner who will determine the species of shark involved.

His death marks the second fatality in recent weeks, coming on the heels of the loss of Steven Mattaboni, 38, off Rottnest Island on May 16.

The double tragedy has sparked a fierce political debate, with the Opposition demanding a reckoning over the State’s $35 million mitigation rollout.

Shadow Fisheries Minister Kirrilee Warr is demanding an immediate investigation into the Labor Government’s tactics.

“Since 2017 there’s been a circle of around $35 million invested into shark mitigation,” Ms Warr said.

“It does raise the question around what data does the government currently have and what reviews may or may not have taken place to see if those particular mitigation strategies are actually working.

“We certainly would encourage the government to ... be transparent around what has actually taken place, what’s failing, what’s working, and what furthermore might need to happen in terms of keeping our ocean loving West Australians safe.”

Ms Warr refused to rule out a return to controversial shark culling, telling reporters it “possibly isn’t” off the table.

“There’s a number of matters where the opposition are taking consideration on, and I think this will be one of them for sure,” she said.

But Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis firmly shut down any talk of a cull.

“WA has one of the best shark hazard mitigation strategies in the world,” Ms Jarvis said.

“I don’t think there’s any evidence that culling sharks close to shore provides any additional safety.

“The evidence is not there to support a cull in this instance.”

Instead, the Minister pointed to the Shark Smart WA app, which links ocean users to a 38-location real-time monitoring network.

“The strategy is to provide real-time information so that water users can make informed decisions ... the measure of success is making sure that water users have all that information at hand in real time.”

Despite 10 shark interactions recorded so far this year — following 19 in total last year — the Minister rejected claims of a spike in activity, labelling the back-to-back deaths a “tragedy”.