Cairns crocs: Beefed up laws to punish risky behaviour around crocs

Under a suite of new laws, risky actions by social media influencers chasing clicks online could soon be dealt with by rangers issuing fines.

An alarming photo of a man with a phone in his hand standing only metres away from a Far North croc – actions like these will be made illegal under new laws which are expected to be adopted by state government. Picture: Supplied

The state government appears likely to bring in new laws that would fine people who ignore crocodile warnings.

The proposal has been put forward by the Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO) after a series of events earlier this year at a Bloomfield boat ramp.

In February, 50km south of Cooktown, a crocodile was euthanised after it attacked a man and his dog at Bloomfield River.

Alister MacPhee, 37, ignored croc warning signs and walked to the end of the Bloomfield River boat ramp in a pair of budgie smugglers and began wading into the water with his dog Molly.

Alister MacPhee and his dog Molly who was killed by a crocodile in the Bloomfield River back in February. Picture: Supplied

Under the proposed laws which have been considered by the Department of Environment and Science and have just moved to the Department of Attorney-General for further consideration, rangers would be given the power to fine people who ignored official safety messaging.

A video still of Alister MacPhee and his dog Molly being attacked by a crocodile near the Bloomfield boat ramp.

Amanda French, biographer for Bob Irwin – who also supports the proposal, said she joined a new community committee called Community Representation of Crocodiles which was formed after the Bloomfield River incident in February.

“We argued that the man was responsible for the death of his dog and that croc – as well as other crocs that were killed to find that croc – (were not).

“We wrote to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to prosecute, and they told us to contact the Department of Environment and Science – who in turn told us to contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries”.

“It occurred to us that there was a gap. No action could be taken against the man.”

“Everyone, including the (state) Government agrees there is a legislative gap and something needs to be done,” Ms French said.

Kirstiana Ward, a managing lawyer with the EDO, said their calls intensified as multiple people have since been photographed getting close to 4m saltwater crocodile in Babinda known as Clyde.

Three young women, believed to be to be tourists, get close and personal with a 4m saltwater crocodile, known by Babinda residents as Clyde.

“People are just assuming he is not going to attack,” she said.

“But if he does attack and kill someone. They are going to have to find Clyde and euthanise him.

“Then someone will be tasked with the job of having to open up Clyde and take out the remains. When somebody is taken, the whole community is harmed.”

Ms Ward said under the proposed laws, people would face fines for risky behaviours such as leaving out food scraps, deliberately going into water where crocs are known to frequent, taking photos with crocs and not moving away if a croc moves within a close distance.

The size of the fine has yet to be determined.

The laws are expected to operate similarly to dingo laws in K’gari Island that outlaw feeding or leaving food out for dingoes.

Alister MacPhee after being attacked by a crocodile near the Bloomfield boat ramp.

It is also unlawful to go within a certain distance of whales in the water.

Ms Ward and Ms French pointed out that crocodiles are considered vulnerable species in Queensland.

“Removing crocs is not the answer. All it does is destabilise the territory, meaning another large croc will move into the territory.”

Originally published as Cairns crocs: Beefed up laws to punish risky behaviour around crocs