Community & Business
29 August, 2024
New bill puts crocs on notice
A BILL that would take a zero-tolerance approach to any crocodile found in populated waterways had been introduced into Parliament by Member for Hill Shane Knuth.
Katter’s Australian Party’s Shane Knuth last week introduced the Crocodile Control, Conservation, and Safety Bill 2024 into Parliament, taking a no-nonsense stand against the escalating crocodile threat in North Queensland.
The Bill is a response to constant calls from North Queensland communities and places a premium on human life by implementing aggressive measures to mitigate the risks to human life posed by the increasing crocodile population.
The bill demands immediate action be taken to any crocodile in populated waterways - either to relocate it or, if necessary, eliminate the threat.
“We’re done with half-measures. This Bill is about saving lives, plain and simple,” Mr Knuth declared.
“The idea that we have to wait for a crocodile to exhibit ‘dangerous behaviour’ before doing something is beyond absurd.
“Any crocodile in a populated area is a ticking time bomb, and it needs to be removed – end of story.”
Mr Knuth didn’t mince words when highlighting the shocking data from the Queensland Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation.
“In 2023, there were 1,216 crocodile sightings - up from a mere 176 in 2010. And in the last five months we’ve seen three terrible, fatal croc attacks in our northern waters,” he
“This is a crisis, and it’s destroying our way of life.”
“The exploding crocodile population isn’t just a threat to lives; it’s affecting North Queensland’s economy.
“Our tourism industry is struggling to market our stunning beaches and waterways, only for visitors to be greeted by croc warning signs and beach closures.
“What kind of message is that? Swim here and you might get ripped to pieces?”
The KAP Bill also empowers Indigenous landholders to manage crocodiles on their land, be it through relocation, culling, or capitalizing on economic opportunities like egg harvesting and bringing in high-end paying clients to hunt crocodiles.
Knuth also added the Bill will allow private landholders to contact the Crocodile Authority, which would be established in Cairns, to have crocodiles immediately removed from their property.
“With nearly 80% of Queensland’s crocodile population in the Far North, it’s time we took control of our destiny and stopped letting Brisbane call the shots,” Mr Knuth said.
