KAP: Time to put some bite into crocodile management 

19 January 2024

 The recent increase in crocodile sightings across Queensland has reaffirmed Katter’s Australian Party’s (KAP) position that the State Government needs to do more to reduce the likelihood of crocodile attacks through better Crocodile Management.

Hinchinbrook MP and KAP Deputy Leader, Nick Dametto said the increase in reported sightings as well as aggressive crocodile behaviour indicated a serious problem with the way the crocodile population was being managed in Queensland.

“There must be a change in the way the State Government views crocodiles, they are no longer a threatened species by any stretch of the criteria, and it’s about time that human life was put before crocodiles,” Mr Dametto said.

“We’ve been told that current Crocodile Management zones are currently being considered by the Department of Environment and Science but we’re all getting a bit long in the tooth waiting for that to happen.

“In my opinion, unless the Department starts actively removing all crocs from populated areas and places humans frequent for recreational use, we will be no closer to restoring balance in our waterways.

“The Department is more concerned with people becoming complacent than removing the actual problem. We once enjoyed our beaches and swimming holes carefree. I’d like to remind those eco warriors “croc wise” is a phase made up under Labor and not a way of life most North Queenslanders want to live.

“Stop using human behaviour as a reason to not better control and manage these reptiles.

“In Ingham we’ve had to move local events that used to be hosted at the TYTO Wetlands because of the increased threat of a crocodile attack.

“The TYTO Wetlands is a man-made habitat but will soon become a ‘human exclusion zone’ if the Government doesn’t quickly snap back to reality”.

KAP MP for Hill, Shane Knuth said the State Government for far too long had stuck their head in the sand and ignored this issue.

“Doing nothing and blaming the average Queenslander, who simply wants to enjoy fishing and swimming is not good management and is avoiding dealing proactively with the danger crocodiles pose to human life in North Queensland.

“Just sticking up a warning sign and telling people to be ‘croc wise’ is a lazy way to properly manage the increasing crocodile population, with many moving into waterways they have never been sighted before.

“In Darwin, they have an annual crocodile cull which maintains a sustainable crocodile population.

“All we are asking for is a zero-tolerance policy on crocodiles in populated waterways and for a more effective management policy to keep numbers in check and protect human lives.”

With increased crocodile sightings and close encounters throughout North Queensland following heavy summer flooding, Kennedy MP Bob Katter said the solution to managing the apex predator was quite simple.

“A crocodile female lays about 60 eggs a year. Now you imagine if every woman in Brisbane had 60 babies each year,” Mr Katter said.

“The biggest predator was man – the First Australians were the biggest predators, but there were also other predators, but they have been removed – for example, goannas.

“But the really big predator was man, and man was removed as a predator, so each crocodile mother lays 60 eggs each year.

“Now you’re telling me there’s no problem? It’s knocked nature completely out of kilter.

“It’s very simple, the ALP are wokies, the Liberal Party is influenced heavily by wokies – they put more value on a tree or an animal than upon a human. There is something seriously wrong with a civilisation that puts more value on trees and animals than on human life.”

The KAP is calling on the State Government to expedite the findings of its review into crocodile management zones particularly in the parts of Tropical North Queensland from Townsville north where more than 87 sightings have been reported since 1 December 2023.

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