The federal environment minister has slammed Queensland’s decision to remove shark drumlines, saying “they’ve put politics ahead of public safety”.

The state government failed to appeal a federal court decision in favour of The Humane Society International, who claimed drumlines are cruel and ineffective.

Just 24 hours after the ruling, more than 160 shark-control drumlines were removed from 27 beaches between Cairns and Gladstone.

But federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley tells Alan Jones she’s “quite bewildered by their actions”.

“Queensland have done the wrong thing here. They’ve put politics ahead of public safety.

“There was absolutely no need to do this… that judgement did not tell them to take those drumlines out within 24 hours.

“Put the drumlines back in, admit that you were wrong, that you for whatever reason decided to make this political and we will work with you at Commonwealth level.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

RELATED

‘There will be blood on the government’s hands’: Shark drumlines to be removed