Balancing Public Safety with Environmental Concerns in Shark Policies

This assignment explores the public relations strategies employed during the implementation of the shark culling policy in Western Australia. It highlights the challenges faced by the government in managing public perception and the environmental implications of such policies. The essay delves into the communication tactics used, including social media campaigns, to engage with stakeholders and address public concerns. By analyzing these efforts, the assignment provides insights into how strategic communication can influence policy acceptance and foster better relationships between governments and communities. Additionally, it considers alternative hazard mitigation strategies that align more closely with environmental conservation goals.

Shark culling in Western
Australia and Subsequent
public relation implications
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Table of Contents
Shark culling in Western Australia and Subsequent public relation
implications.................................................................................................................................1
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
Question 1 Public opinion regarding shark culling in Australia......................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Main body...............................................................................................................................3
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................4
Q2 Guring’s four models of public relations...................................................................................5
Introduction............................................................................................................................5
Main body...............................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................6
Q3 Western Australia sheds the light on the public relation in the new era of social media..........6
Main body...............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................7
Reference.........................................................................................................................................8
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Question 1 Public opinion regarding shark culling in Australia
Introduction
The government of Australia started killing large sharks in the vicinity of swimming beaches
with the use of baited drum lines. To kill shark, policy was implemented by the government in
2014 in respect to protect human swimmers from shark attacks following the death of seven
people on Western Australian coastline within the year 2010 to 2013.
Main body
At present, public are turning against sharks killing because they think that most of the
shark bites were accidental. As per the new poll by UMR investigation, it is identified that 83 %
of Australians have not changed their opinion regarding swimming or taking part in entertaining
activities in the ocean due to shark fear. At the time when the interview was conducted with 500
adults stated that they feel safe while going into the ocean and some of them replied they go at
their own risk (Clemens, 2015). As per the public opinion, one of the worst parts of government
activity was to kill the innocent shark. Hence, it clearly shows that Australia is turning against
action which is taken by the government for supporting the systematic capturing and killing of
sharks. Therefore, the government has come under fire for its controversial shark scrapping
program.
Environmental and scientist are strongly against the policy of killing sharks as it is cruel and
pose threat to the marine ecosystem. Due to increase in death rate of human beings, it is a
responsibility of the public to take action for protecting their lives. However, killing shark policy
of the government is simply for gaining sympathy from the public (PACKHAM, 2014 ). Hence,
sea, shepherdesses, who were an activist oppose the plan and he wants to challenge the
government decision. So, he claimed in court that is not only illegal but also inhumane. The
opinion of public turn against the government when shark opposition program was supported by
mother of dead sea shepherd shark.
The government of Western Australia has started managing this issue as they avoided killing
sharks in oceans.
Greg Hunt, the environmental minister, has helped clear the way for a controversial shark
cull in Western Australia by releasing it from national legislation designing to save endangered
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species. The key lesson of this case is that to kill shark is not an appropriate way to protect
human beings. It is essential for government to understand to focus on saving endangered species
instead of killing them (WA shark policy to be challenged in court, 2014 ).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is concluded that public has no fear from shark as they attack are
accidents. Therefore, to kill sharks which are innocent is completely wrong as per public
opinion. For that reason, Western Australian government should take steps in order to prevent
killing sharks and try to conserve natural environment.
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Q2 Guring’s four models of public relations
Introduction
Public relation plays one of the important roles for the successful policy and its
development. While in the case of government, every policy is highly impacted and become
essential for government. Therefore, the government should understand their needs and concerns
raised by public bodies as well as solve them on time. The present research is based on culling
policy implemented by Western Australian government and views of the public.
Main body
There are four models of public relation and are proposed by Guring’s and they are
practiced by the public in public relations practitioners. These four models are public information
model, two-way symmetrical model and two-way asymmetrical model.
• Press agent/publicity model: Communication professional are basically used for shaping the
thoughts and views of the public. At the time of using this model, it is essential to focus on
accuracy and firm do not seek audience feedback or carry out audience analysis research. Hence
it is one way of communication which can be used by the Western Australia government. For the
government, it is important to communicate reasons due to which it formulated a policy of shark
culling. Through communicating in an effective manner will help in gaining public trust and
supports. As public are not much aware of the consequence related to the shark culling therefor
effective communication can play significant role in building trust in key audience. Along with
this, it will also help in creating positive image of government in front of public
• The public information model: This is also known as one-way communication model and it
can be used in an effective manner by the government. The aim of this model is to provide
information to public related to the new policy etc. In this sender send a message to the receiver.
They can use this model to reveal information regarding who are killed by a shark (Botan, and
Hazleton, 2017). Along with this, the Western Australian government should be honest while
providing information related to the shark culling as it helps in gaining support and building
trust. Hence, mainstream media is directly linked to the government of Australia. Therefore, the
government can control the content of news as it can be stated as agenda setting. The media
focuses a lot of reports of news related to the Shark culling. This shows that media has shape and
direct the public to think to about shark culling policy. In such a model, government need to be
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creative and have a talent for writing. Western Australian government should be good while
presenting their thoughts which can influence public.
• Two-way asymmetrical model: The model is used for public relations and its two-way
communication between public and government. In this kind of model, government positions
their policy and brand in minds of their targeted people through manipulating and encourage the
public to behave in the same manner as they want. However, in this model government unable to
use their manpower and resources for identifying the reaction of the targeted audience. Along
with this, it is one of the ideal ways of building a reputation in front of the public. In this model,
free flow of communication takes place in between government and audience (Theaker, 2017).
Along with this, government can resolve conflict and misunderstanding through discussion.
However, this model is quite tough to use by the government as because discussion cannot be
done with the public directly. Therefore, feedback can be considered in order to understand
public issues so that changes can be made shark killing strategies.
• Two-way symmetrical model: As per the view of Gruing, public relation can be spread of
management and public with the purpose of building a relationship. This model focuses on
accurate two-way communication and dialogue one of the main reason for using this model is to
gain the trust of other party and resolver queries and another conflict. Further, it refers to the
interaction that can affect each other directly and indirectly. Along with this, it can be stated that
it is two way in the performance of the government and media for maintaining mutual
cooperation and mutual limits.
Conclusion
From the above answer it is concluded that government can adopt Guring’s four models
of public relations in order to communicate successfully with the public. With the use of this
model it can easily gain trust of people through putting own thoughts in front of the them in an
effective manner.
Q3 Western Australia sheds the light on the public relation in the new era of
social media
Introduction
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Social media is one of the effective platform that help in sharing opinions, post, views
and for communication. With the use of this platform government can easily regain its reputation
through promoting their new policies regarding avoiding sharks culling’s.
Main body
The story of shark culling in Western Australia sheds the light on the public relation in
the new era of social media. However, the opposition to the cull was loud and spread quickly on
social media. And activists have even removed bait from drum lines (Grunig, 2017). It is
understandable that Western Australia government was trying to protect public from shark
attacks. However, to kill the shark is not the only option availed for protecting government as the
government can consider the more effective option. Shark culling has created a negative image
of Western Australian government and many people opposed it on Twitter, Facebook etc. There
is no evidence provide that to kill shark help in saving the life of human beings. Hence, it has
created a bad image in front of public and relationship between government and public was
negatively impacted.
Issues of shark culling were taken up widely on social media especially on Twitter, Facebook
etc and its outcome was a large number of tweets, post, and comments. There are many people
who highlight the relative rarity of a shark attack. The Sharks page was highly supported by a
large number of people. Further, Anti-cull sentiment translated into the real world and there are
more than 4000 people who protest the policy of killing shark on 3rd January 2014. The
government denied the policy constitutes a cull and at the time, premier claimed that silent
majority has supported the trial. The government can protect their reputation in the digital age
through implementing other option to protect human being instead of killing sharks. Along with
this, the government should support the public opinion and implement them effectively to
improve relationships (Pellicer-Sifres, Belda-Miquel, and Boni Aristizábal, 2017). Hence,
government can implement new shark hazard mitigation policy which is related to providing
extra protection to a shark at the Western Australia beach. Along with this, new initiatives
combine public safety policy after taking advice from the stakeholders from the department of
environmental protection agency and the federal government.
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Conclusion
From the above question it is concluded that government can use effective social media
strategies in order to regain its reputation. It is important for the government to do not kill sharks
which is strongly opposed by public and environmental authority.
Reference
Books and Journal:
Pellicer-Sifres, V., Belda-Miquel, and Boni Aristizábal, A., 2017. Grassroots Social Innovation
for Human Development: An Analysis of Alternative Food Networks in the City of
Valencia (Spain). Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 18(2). pp.258-274.
Grunig, J.E., 2017. Symmetrical presuppositions as a framework for public relations theory. In
Public relations theory (pp. 17-44). Routledge.
Theaker, A., 2017. What is public relations?. In The Public Relations Strategic Toolkit (pp. 17-
27). Routledge.
Botan, C.H. and Hazleton, V., 2017. The role of theory in public relations. In Public relations
theory (pp. 3-15). Routledge.
ONLINE:
Clemens, D., 2015 [Online] Available through: <http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-
week/shark-feed/tide-of-public-opinion-turns-against-shark-culling-study-reveals/>.
PACKHAM, B., 2014 [Online] Available through: <www.theaustralian.com.au/national-
affairs/western-australia-given-exemption-from-federal-laws-to-cull-sharks/news-story/
3a4336468c06bb681dfb86f7f75e6deb?sv=8c8cc2fda56e3af15a05c5a2ecd3c3b5>.
WA shark policy to be challenged in court, 2014 [Online] Available through:
<thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/wa/2014/02/26/wa-shark-policy-challenged-court/>.
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