Terri Irwin has vocalised her opposition to a new bill proposed by Katter’s Australian Party aimed at allowing crocodile culls and hunting in Queensland. The legislation, introduced by Hill MP Shane Knuth, seeks to create a Queensland Crocodile Authority based in Cairns, broaden the circumstances under which crocodiles can be killed, and permit safari-style hunts overseen by Indigenous groups. Knuth argues that the “Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill” is essential due to rising public frustration over crocodile populations encroaching on recreational waterways, citing an increase in crocodile attacks over recent years.
The proposed bill includes provisions for the removal or euthanisation of crocodiles found in areas classified as “populated waterways,” with this definition to be determined by the new authority. It also empowers landowners to have crocodiles removed from their properties and proposes to raise the annual limit on egg harvesting significantly, comparing Queensland’s current cap of 5,000 to the Northern Territory’s allowance of 90,000. Furthermore, Indigenous landowners would have the option to manage crocodiles on their land, either by removal or hunting, generating economic opportunities within the thriving crocodile industry.
However, Terri Irwin, who submitted her concerns to the parliamentary discussions, labelled the bill as “lazy and sloppy,” particularly critiquing the data used to justify it. She emphasised that current research indicates limited nesting sites hinder the growth of crocodile populations in Queensland. Irwin expressed that the numbers cited by Knuth improperly suggested a rampant increase in crocodile sightings without acknowledging that many reports might involve the same individual crocodile being seen multiple times.
Irwin cautioned that this legislation could inadvertently enhance the risk of crocodile attacks, noting that removing crocodiles does not eradicate them from an area but may lead to other crocodiles moving in to occupy the territory left behind. This phenomenon could mislead the public into believing that waterways are safe after a crocodile is removed, potentially increasing human-crocodile interactions. She stressed that research consistently shows that if a crocodile is removed, another quickly occupies the space, meaning the bill would not significantly lower the threat of crocodile attacks.
In summary, while the proposed Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill aims to address public safety concerns in North Queensland and create economic opportunities for Indigenous communities, it faces opposition from wildlife advocates like Terri Irwin, who argue that it oversimplifies the complexities of crocodile management and could pose new risks to human safety.