Shark Net Protestor Dressed As Shark Held By Cops For Chucking Net On Baird

 

In the past few months, there’s been multiple shark attacks and even more shark sightings at Ballina and Lighthouse Beach. 

Rather than educate residents and install safety programs, NSW‘s Baird government has instead gone straight for their signature move: a band-aid fix that is harmful to the environment, and fixes nothing in the long-term. NICE.

Mike Baird today visited Ballina to give a press conference about a 6-month trial of shark nets being installed. 

However, a large number of residents and anti-shark net protestors were waiting at the press conference site, the Lance Ferris Wharf, to give Baird a piece of their mind about the nets, which will harm the marine wildlife in the area.

Unfortunately Baird reportedly never showed up to the wharf, instead changing the location at the last minute, and having the conference at the Ballina Marine Rescue Tower.

However, protestors managed to meet him there. People were reportedly holding signs saying ‘BAIRD = ECO-VANDAL‘, and yelling ‘no shark nets’ and ‘don’t harm marine life’ at the Premier. 

@alexhart7 @mikebairdMP @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/2gOkcTuQMt

— Lez Cyborg ?? (@LezCyborg) November 18, 2016

Protestors chanted so loudly, that at times Baird was forced to lean forward just to be able to hear questions from reporters. 

Some protestors managed to confront Baird about the decision:

It’s also being reported that a man called Dean Jeffreys is being spoken to by police and potentially arrested for throwing a shark net over Mike Baird, all while dressed in a cartoon shark costume. 

Yes, you read correctly!

Dramatic scenes at Ballina.A protester who doesn’t want shark nets on north coast tried to throw a net over Premier pic.twitter.com/r99WMmExLL

— Sarah Gerathy (@sarahgerathy) November 18, 2016

Here he is being spoken to by the po-po:

Protester Dean Jefferys who tried to throw a net over Premier Mike Baird is spoken to by police #nswpol pic.twitter.com/gJKrmuSl6O

— Sarah Gerathy (@sarahgerathy) November 18, 2016

BREAKING: Man possibly about to be charged with assaulting @mikebairdMP for throwing net on him. @7NewsSydney

— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) November 18, 2016

At least things are going a bit better for @mikebairdmp now…oh wait! someone just tried to throw a net over him! Go to election @Imresal

— The Daily Rupert (@TheMurdochTimes) November 18, 2016

And there’s been a pretty stock-standard response from Aussies about it:

Did Mike Baird actually get *caught* in the net? Oh god I hope so.

— Mel Thomas. (@photogramel) November 18, 2016

@alexhart7 @Y7News @7NewsSydney Did @mikebairdMP try to sell the net to one of his mates afterwards?

— Kaptain Kobold (@KaptainKobold) November 18, 2016

@alexhart7 @mikebairdMP @7NewsSydney Baird scared of a net ????

— Susan Mackay (@mackaysuzie) November 18, 2016

@alexhart7 @7NewsSydney @mikebairdMP hahahaha

— Ricky James (@MitchOwines) November 18, 2016

@alexhart7 @7NewsSydney @mikebairdMP unfortunately he will survive, unlike the marine life caught in Mike’s torture nets.

— Cathy Crawley (@Cathy_Crawley) November 18, 2016

With the overhaul of the ICAC, and now this – it’s been yet another backlash-filled week for ol’ Casino Mike. 

We’ll update this story as soon as more information arises.