University of Sydney survey finds Australians know that politicians can’t eliminate risk from the ocean, despite politicians pretending they can

A new national survey co-funded by the Envoy Foundation and conducted by the University of Sydney and YouGov has delivered a clear message to policymakers:

Australians know the ocean can not be 100% safe — and they don’t expect governments to do the impossible.

In the survey of 1,500 Australians (25–30 September), 85% said governments cannot make beaches 100% safe from shark attacks. Only 8% believed otherwise. Despite this, NSW and QLD politicians pretend they can by using misleading messaging around shark nets and drumlines, in pursuit of headlines and sound grabs.

“Australians aren’t stupid. They understand the ocean is a wilderness, not a swimming pool,” said Andre Borell, founder of the Envoy Foundation. “Shark bites are rare and tragic, and all responsible and scientifically supported steps should absolutely be taken to minimise that risk, but it can never be zero. The public understands that you can’t domesticate the ocean, yet to defend outdated programs many politicians pretend they can, and that is disingenuous and dangerous."

This Is Not a Culture War

Support for this reality transcends politics:

• 79% of Labor voters said beaches can’t be made 100% safe

• 87% of Coalition voters said the same

• 93% of Greens voters agreed

“This isn’t left vs right. It’s not environment vs humans. It’s not a blue, or red, or green issue. It’s just common sense. Framing it as a ‘greenie’ issue is disingenuous, and it turns an important public safety discussion into a culture war. The data shows it’s not.” said Borell.

Despite this, state governments in Queensland and New South Wales continue to invest millions each year in lethal shark net programs, outdated measures that kill thousands of marine animals annually and give beachgoers a false sense of security. 

No Need for Politicians to Fear Blame

Surveys also confirm that politicians can modernise shark policies without fearing backlash. In a previous study, 70% of Bondi locals said they wouldn’t blame the government if nets were removed and a fatal shark bite occurred, something that tragically also occurs at netted beaches. 

“The fear of being blamed is driving policy decisions that are out of step with public thinking,” Borell said. “Leaders don’t need to be afraid, they need to be honest.”

A Call for Honest, Modern Policy

Australians are ready for smarter, evidence-based approaches to shark bite risk, approaches that don’t rely on culling, fishing nets, or misinformation that tells us that approaches devised in 1937 are effective or appropriate.

“The data shows unity, not division,” Borell said. “It’s time our policies reflected that, and respected the intelligence of the Australian public.”

Survey Details:

• Conducted 25–30 September 2025 by YouGov

• Sample: 1,500 nationally representative Australian adults

• Question developed by Associate Professor Chris Pepin-Neff, University of Sydney

• Ethics approved and funded by the University of Sydney and the Envoy Foundation