Australia news live: Experts push back at call for shark cull after attack; university students report freedom of speech fears

Little evidence for shark culls to improve beach safety, experts say

Experts warn there is little evidence shark culls keep ocean-goers safer following the latest shocking encounter at a busy city beach, AAP reports.

A woman, 35, was swimming about 30 meters offshore at Coogee beach in Sydney when she was bitten by a shark on Saturday. She remained in critical but stable condition on Sunday.

A great white shark, which is a protected species, is thought to have been responsible. It follows a cluster of attacks nationwide, including several bull shark bites in Sydney Harbour.

The latest incident has reignited calls for culls to protect swimmers, which NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty has not expressly ruled out.

Adelaide University program director of environmental science Brianna Le Brusque said harmful encounters with the predators were tragic and cull discussions an understandable response.

But she said there was no science on how many animals would need to be removed to keep swimmers safe nor evidence it would meaningfully improve community safety.

Surveillance methods to alert swimmers were more effective, though complicated by a flight path keeping drones out of the air around Coogee.