The current Queensland Shark Control Program (QSCP) operates on an underlying methodology of cruelty toward, and killing of endangered and protected wildlife. It can only operate without facing prosecution for animal cruelty charges on the basis of an exemption in the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Queensland)

s.46 Use of fishing apparatus under shark
fishing contract
It is an offence exemption for an offence if—
(a)the act that constitutes the offence is the
use of fishing apparatus under the Fisheries Act
1994; and
(b)the use is—
(i)to protect persons from attack by sharks; and
(ii)carried out under an agreement between any
person and the State for the disposal, tagging
or taking of sharks.

The Department’s overly broad application of this exemption, that anything the program does is exempt, is highly troubling. In order for the exemption to apply, all three criteria (a), (b)(i) and (b)(ii) must be met. Cruelty must be committed with fishing equipment (as defined in Fisheries Act 1994), and the shark must be shown to be likely to harm harmed persons, and by a contractor who holds a valid contract. It is unlikely that all three criteria are met in each of the 1,096 cases of cruelty to animals perpetuated by the program in 2023 (that is, the catch total).