- Crisafulli Government has expanded the SharkSmart drone program to more than 20 locations to deliver on its commitment to swimmer safety.
- Five new Queensland beaches join the ranks patrolled by SharkSmart drones these September school holidays.
- New Gold Coast and Wide Bay drone patrols underway in collaboration between Shark Control Program and Surf Life Saving Queensland.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy and boosting safety at Queensland beaches after Labor failed to during their decade of decline.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering safer beaches for swimmers by expanding the SharkSmart drone program to 26 beaches these September school holidays, in line with its commitment to return the Shark Control Program to its original purpose to protect people from shark attacks.
In collaboration with Surf Life Saving Queensland, SharkSmart drone patrols are underway these September school holidays, including at five new beaches on the Gold Coast and Wide Bay.
Drones are now patrolling 26 beaches including Coolangatta, Greenmount, Northcliffe and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, and Nielson Park near Bundaberg, to monitor conditions and detect sharks as well as gather data on shark movements and behaviour, to help protect beach goers.
The former Labor Government's failure to properly fund the Shark Control Program put swimmer safety and our international tourism reputation at risk.
Under the Queensland Shark Management Plan 2025 to 2029 , shark-spotting drones have not only been rolled out to more beaches but made a permanent fixture of Shark Control Program operations under the Crisafulli Government.
In 2025-26, SharkSmart drones completed more than 11,700 flights, detected 1,822 sharks, identified 246 potentially dangerous sharks and supported 41 temporary beach closures to help keep swimmers safe.
Surf Life Saving Queensland obtained the required Civil Aviation Safety Authority and council permissions in 2025-26, to allow the Program to operate in restricted air space in the southern Gold Coast region.
This milestone enables the program to expand to beaches previously excluded from operations, enhancing safety in these areas.
In addition, the Shark Control Program and SLSQ are trialling extended visual line of sight operations and will soon test beyond visual line of sight operations at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in an effort to increase time, distance and area drone technology can monitor.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the drones at these new high-density locations would help to reduce the risk of shark attacks and keep swimmers safer on our great beaches.
"We committed to double our drone program to 20 beaches in the 2026-27 season but with SharkSmart drones operating across a total of 26 separate beaches these school holidays, and 31 beaches across the 2026-27 season, we have not only delivered on that commitment, but we have surpassed it," Mr Perrett said.
"This expanded roll out leaves no doubt, we are delivering on our commitment to improve safety for beach goers, to return the Shark Control Program to its original intent and deploy the latest technology including non-lethal methods.
"The continued use and expansion of SharkSmart drones provides extra visibility and rescue capacity across our beaches and collects important data on marine life behaviour."
Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber said delivering drone services to Southern Gold Coast beaches would help keep locals and visitors safer.
"Coolangatta and Greenmount are world-renowned surf breaks, and this investment gives our hardworking lifeguards another set of eyes on the water to protect swimmers," Minister Gerber said.
"We know how popular our beaches are during school holidays, and this technology will help give local families and visitors greater confidence while enjoying the best of the Southern Gold Coast."
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the expansion of drone patrols to Nielson Park beach was warmly welcomed.
"This gives families another layer of protection while they enjoy one of our region's beautiful beaches," Mr Bennett said.
"It complements the drones already operating at Kellys Beach and Agnes Water Main Beach.
"We want locals and visitors to enjoy the beach, while making sure they have the best possible information to stay safe in the water."
