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Australian waters are providing ideal hunting grounds for two "target" shark species and La Niña could play into the number of bites on swimmers increasing, a marine biologist has claimed.

Great white sharks have been responsible for 334 incidents since the 1900s, according to a database collated by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, while tiger sharks and bull sharks trailed behind with 206 and 148 incidents respectively.

Taronga Conservation Society classifies a shark "incident" by three factors. These include; whether the person is alive at the time of the incident, the person is in the water or using a small watercraft, and there's a determined attempt by a shark to bite a person, equipment worn or being used, or the small watercraft.

The interaction is recorded in the database regardless of whether the bite is successful.

Great whites, tigers and bull sharks are in the "top three" target species involved in the most serious bites around the nation, however data shows from roughly 2009 the number of run-ins with great whites jumped substantially.

And an increasing trend has been mirrored for bull sharks from 2020.

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Dr Leonardo Guida, a shark scientist and conservationist at the Australian Marine Conservation Societym said run-ins with these sharks are likely to become more common.

'The overall general pattern is, and you can't argue against it, is there is an increase in shark bites … But if you drill into the details you can get a sense of why'

There has also been a population increase over the past 20 years on the Australian coastline.

"In NSW for example, between 2007-2017, roughly in that period where there is quite a bit of an increase, the state's population grew by about one million people," Guida said.

"Outside of Sydney, most of that growth occurred in areas like Newcastle, the Illawarra and Central Coast – so these coastal areas.

"In short, generally around Australia, with a population increase, you're likely to see an increase in shark bites."

Guida said changes in water temperatures are also likely to play a part. 

READ MORE: What we know about shark attack occurrences around Australia

"Climate change could also be influencing the risk of shark bites," he said.

"With climate change we can see movement patterns in sharks change.

"So bull sharks for example, are projected to head further south down the NSW coast as the East Australian Current (EAC) drives warmer water further south.

"They are projected to hang around even a bit longer.

"These movements might overlap for more periods overtime with beaches that are popular with people."

Guida said changes to the EAC is also influencing great white shark movements, as the current creates cold water eddies.

"These are kind of like the off-spurts," he explained.

"We know from tracking studies that white sharks love cold water eddies because they tend to be more productive in foods.

"So it's also a possibility that as the current brings warmer waters further down the coast, these cold water offshoots, or eddies, could be pushed closer to shore.

"Do these cold water eddies overlap with areas that are popular with people? We don't quite know.

"(But) ultimately an increase in bites potentially in the future can relate to population change, compounded by warming waters, and changing movement patterns."

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Why east coast waters are the perfect hunting grounds

Guida said the waters off Australia's east coast are providing ideal hunting grounds for both great white sharks and bull sharks.

To understand why these waters are ideal, one must first know how the animals prefer to hunt. 

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"Bull sharks tend to favour murky and turbid waters," Guida said, adding stormy weather and La Niña is providing this in droves.

"We know from scientific research, particularly at river mouths, they like to hang around there during and shortly after storms.

"What we're seeing over the last couple of years with La Niña patterns, is public warnings from bodies like NSW Government, saying 'there's a lot of rivers near popular surf spots, so heads up, perhaps avoid the water'.

Guida said the waters off the Hunter coast, around Newcastle and Port Stephens, is a known great white shark nursery with another at "the furthest edge of the Victorian inlet".

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"We actually think juvenile white sharks migrate up and down the coast," he said.

"They favour these coastal waters as there's relatively high food abundance, with fish populations like Australian salmon and stingrays.

"But also it's relatively sheltered compared to the open ocean where the big adults tend to be.

"Being juveniles on the east coast there's obviously a high overlap with area that are also popular with humans, whether it be bathing, swimming, surfing."

Great white sharks have been responsible for all fatal NSW attacks for the past two years, with the state clocking the highest number of attacks in the nation over this period.

The reason for the severity of great white attacks is the animals have an "ambush" hunting method. 

"They come up unannounced," Guida said. 

"And what we roughly know is they favour low light conditions, as it helps this ability to be hidden from potential prey.

"Another really interesting thing they've found with white sharks is they actually hunt in orientation to the sun. The glare actually hides them, in a similar way to how fighter pilots hide themselves."

Despite spike attacks fatalities remain stable

Guida said it's important not to be alarmed by the data set, explaining that while shark incidents are increasing – fatalities are not.

"That trend has remained relatively stable at about one-and-a-half people per year," he said.

"What that says is despite more people going into the water and interactions increasing there also seems to be better emergency responses.

"This speaks to why it's so important to have non-lethal mitigation strategies – for instance more lifeguards, better medical training, more watching towers, more drones – so if there's an incident there's more chance of someone getting life-saving treatment."

Guida outlined the steps someone should take should they find themselves an unwilling witness to an attack.

"If you're out surfing with your mate at a remote beach and you have a surf rope you should use that as a makeshift tourniquet," he said, adding most bites typically occur on the legs or lower portion of the body.

"That speaks to the 'ambush nature' of a shark.

"If you don't have a rope and you can rest them on a surfboard, or you can get them close to the beach, put your fist between their hip and their bits and push down to stem the blood flow."

A coroner has concluded Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez is dead but she is unable to determine the cause or manner of his death.

State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan said suicide appeared to be highly unlikely and there was no reason for the 18-year-old to intentionally vanish.

But she could not make a finding on the two competing theories put forward at the inquest into his disappearance more than three years ago.

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They were that he had a terrible accident as he tried to climb towards the lighthouse at Byron Bay or that one or more persons caused his death and disposed of his body.

"Sadly, there is just insufficient evidence before me to substantiate or exclude either theory," she said on Friday.

He was reportedly last seen about 11pm on May 31, 2019 when he was ejected from the Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay.

Police were alerted six days later, when he failed to return to his hostel and could not be found or contacted.

A large-scale search was launched, with only a hat believed to belong to Theo located.

Police in February announced a $500,000 reward for anyone with significant information about Theo's case.

"I hope if there is any further information to be known, the reward would provide a motivation to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers," the coroner said.

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O'Sullivan acknowledged the sadness and loss experienced by Theo's family and friends, some who travelled from Belgium to Byron Bay for the inquest.

"It is obvious from the evidence he had a bright future ahead of him," she said.

She concluded by making recommendations to cut the red tape involved in searching for missing persons.

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A woman living on the NSW-Victoria border sustained bruises and deep gashes after a kangaroo attacked her with no warning, forcing her pet dog to intervene and act as saviour.

Pam Baldwin, 71, was walking her Rottweiler "Bundy" to a mates' house along Nail Can Hill on Sunday, when she got the sudden sense something was behind her.

Turning, she came face to face with eyes and a furry nose.

The attack came out of nowhere, she told Today.

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"The next minute he's just gone bang with his two back legs," she said.

"I gave him a few choice words."

The attack left Baldwin with bruises to her stomach and a deep scratch on her arm.

Bundy noticed the attack and rushed in to save his owner.

Baldwin said her beloved dog nearly died when the kangaroo lured him into a dam and pinned him down.

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"Bundy is the fifth Rottweiler I've had, I wouldn't have another dog," she said.

"He almost lost his life for me.

"He was within 20 to 40 seconds of being drowned because the kangaroos lead them into a dam if there's one around.

Baldwin said the kangaroo was scared off when her friends approached with a long pole.

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The long-time resident said the native marsupials are becoming a real problem around her community of Nail Can Hill. 

"A traumatic experience, someone needs to do something about it," she said.

"I went to the council and reported it. They didn't want to know me. It 'wasn't their problem', the rangers, 'wasn't their problem'.

"People take their children, ladies push their babies in a pram. What if it was one of them of them?"

9News has contacted Albury City Council for comment. 

When Perth single dad James Brougham hits a roadblock, you can guarantee his solution will be equal parts unconventional and inspiring.

A few years ago, Brougham, 31, was facing down the grim prospect of trying to find a rental for himself and his two young daughters, Halle and Isla.

That's when he got the idea to buy a small yacht for the young family to live on and experience an adventurous life at sea.

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"Our prospects were pretty damn bleak, to be totally honest, but I thought if I could get the boat, I knew I could work it out," he said.

"I also wanted the girls to see what the world was like outside of living in suburbia and going to school."

Escape suburbia they did, setting sail on an epic voyage of more than 1500km up the coast, arriving last month in Dampier. 

But Brougham is not one to sit still, and has set his sights on a new challenge while in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

This month, he'll be aiming to run 500 kilometres to help raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

To make it happen, Brougham said he knew he would need to find a way to bring both of his girls, aged six and two, along for the ride.

After discovering running prams could cost close to $1000, Brougham again came up with a novel solution to meet his needs. 

"I went out and bought a wheelbarrow," he said.

"At $200 for a concreter's barrow, it's the most durable, cost-effective way to cover that distance."

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With a big soft cushion and plenty of snacks, Halle and Isla have been more than happy to tag along as Brougham racks up the kilometres in the WA outback.

Halle said everything about the runs with her dad had been fun.

"It's fun having snacks and fun sitting in the wheelbarrow," she said.

"It's fun stopping at the playground and fun stopping at the servo and getting stuff from there."

So far this month, the trio have covered more than 330km, averaging around 16-20 kilometres a day.

They had piqued the interest of locals who were curious about what they were up to, Brougham said.

"We are getting a lot of support from everyone, a lot of beeping and waving … we certainly stick out," he said.

Roadside treasure hunts helped fill the time, with the family finding many things along the way that would come in handy on their boat, Brougham said. 

'We have found so many fishing lures on the side of the road and cable ties," he said. 

"Just heaps of fishing gear that must blow off people's cars."

The kilometres were coming easier as they neared their goal, but Brougham said he may soon need another pair of shoes.

"I actually bought a new pair at the start of this and these are getting pretty close to worn out," he said.

Brougham has so far raised close to $6000 for the RFDS with his fundraiser.

Contact reporter Emily McPherson at em********@******om.au.

This will be the fifth Conservative prime minister in just over six years — and the third within this parliamentary term. But who might the next leader be?

Lidia Thorpe has today resigned as the Greens' deputy leader in the Senate after she failed to disclose a relationship with former Rebels bikie gang president Dean Martin last year.

During that relationship she was the member of a joint parliamentary law enforcement committee.

Greens leader said Thorpe had accepted his request to resign from the post, following reports by the ABC about her undisclosed relationship with Martin.

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Bandt said she had shown an error in judgement and he had asked her to resign.

"As a leader I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgement.

"At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to meet her connection to Mr Martin and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgement."

There is no suggestion Thorpe has shared any confidential information with anybody who is not authorised to receive it.

Martin was associated with the Rebels for 25 years.

There is no suggestion Martin has an association with the Rebels any longer after stepping down as president in 2018.

He has no criminal convictions.

In a statement, Thorpe said she accepted she had not shown good judgment.

"I accept that I have made mistakes and have not exercised good judgement.

"I will now reflect on this and focus on my important portfolio work, especially advocating for First Nations people."

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking from Perth, described the revelations over Thorpe as "concerning".

"I think that these concerning revelations. Australians are entitled to believe that the oversight processes that are there within the parliament over our legal systems will be maintained in a way that ensures integrity and ensures that any information which is given there is kept in a confidential basis," Albanese said.

"I note that Senator Thorpe has said that this is an error of judgment.

"That's the least description that I would put to it and Mr Bandt has to explain what his office knew and what he knew and if he wasn't informed about these issues, given his office was informed, why that's the case."

Bandt said Thorpe had assured him there was no breach of rules while she sat on parliamentary committees during the undisclosed relationship with Martin.

"She has told me that at no stage was there any breach of the rules regarding those committees or her work, no sharing of confidential information, and to date no one has suggested otherwise," he said.

"But that is not enough. It was clear that – it was clear that this could be perceived as affecting her work and her failure to disclose that, at the very least, to me was an error of judgement."

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Bandt said he expected Thorpe to reflect on her actions and show better judgement in the future.

Earlier today, the ABC reported that two former staff members of Thorpe's office said they raised concerns with the office of Bandt about her relationship with Martin.

But Bandt insisted none of his staff, including his chief of staff, told him about the relationship.

"I have a very good and competent chief of staff who makes many good decisions. This was not of them. I expect that I should have been told about this," he said.

"Ultimately, it was (Lidia Thorpe's) issue that she needed to tell about."

Bandt also said Thorpe's conduct may have technically broken the Greens' code of conduct.

He said the Department of Finance – through an independent agency – is launching a review into her relationship.