A spate of terrifying shark attacks along the New South Wales coast has plunged Sydney's beach-loving community into fear and ignited a fierce political debate about the best way to protect swimmers and surfers.
Four Attacks in Under 48 Hours
The east coast was rocked by a series of incidents, beginning on Sunday when a 12-year-old boy was bitten outside the netted area at Vaucluse's Shark Beach. The horror continued on Monday, with an 11-year-old boy thrown from his board at Dee Why and a 27-year-old surfer suffering life-changing leg injuries at Manly's North Steyne. A fourth attack occurred on Tuesday when a 39-year-old man was bitten at Point Plomer on the Mid North Coast.
All beaches on Sydney's Northern Beaches remain closed as authorities and the public grapple with the unprecedented cluster of incidents. Police had already urged people to avoid swimming in murky, low-visibility water after heavy rain drenched the region, creating conditions experts say can increase shark activity.
Political Clash Over Solutions
The crisis has exposed a sharp divide on marine safety policy. Independent Teal MP Zali Steggall, whose electorate includes the affected Northern Beaches, has launched a strong critique of traditional shark nets.
"Traditional shark nets are not the answer – they are outdated, environmentally damaging and not always effective," Steggall stated. She pointed out that the net at Dee Why had been set as usual, yet the attack there still occurred. Instead, she called for investment in contemporary shark monitoring, detection, and early-warning systems, coupled with improved public education.
Her political rival, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott – a regular surfer ousted by Steggall – hit back with a starkly different view. "This didn't happen because of the weather or the time of day but because there are too many sharks," Abbott wrote on Facebook. "It's way past time to reintroduce the shark fishery." He argued that human safety must be the paramount concern.
A Surfer's Perspective and a Brother's Grief
Amid the political argument, the surfing community is reflecting on the inherent risks of the ocean. Surfer Mike Psillakis, whose brother Mercury was killed in a shark attack at Dee Why in September 2025, urged a broader ecological perspective.
He acknowledged that surfers understand the dangers of murky water, where bull sharks often move from estuaries to feed. "All surfers and swimmers know this. To be aware of the dangers," Psillakis said. However, he questioned whether human interference has disrupted marine ecosystems, contributing to the "unprecedented" spate of attacks.
He also touched on a deeper cultural nerve, stating, "As we all know, Australians identity and lifestyle revolves around our love for the ocean. If this particular part of our culture is stripped away from us, we are no longer Australian."
Authorities have explained that the recent heavy rain created a "perfect storm" for Sunday's harbour attack, with extra fresh water and splashing attracting sharks. Furthermore, heavy swell has prevented the operation of smart drumlines – a modern alert system – along most of the NSW coast since Sunday.
Superintendent Joseph McNulty's pre-incident warning now seems prophetic: "I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time." As the clean-up continues and beaches stay shut, the debate over balancing human safety, marine conservation, and Australian beach culture is set to intensify.
