Katter Party’s proposal for croc trophy-hunting quashed

A bid by the Katter Party for sweeping law reform that would allow Indigenous-led trophy hunting of crocodiles has been spoken about in parliament.

A bid by the Katter Party for sweeping law reform that would allow Indigenous-led trophy hunting of crocodiles has been quashed.

Queensland parliament speaker and MP for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt ruled the proposed bill was out of order and would need to be discharged or withdrawn because it was introduced without a message of recommendation from the Governor.

The proposed laws also had provisions for Indigenous landholders to host crocodile hunting and egg harvesting with the potential for significant cash returns.

Katter Australia Party MPs Bob Katter, Robbie Katter, Nick Dametto and Shane Knuth. Picture: Alison Paterson

A move to big game tourism and crocodile hunting is mooted for the Northern Territory.

State Member for Hill Shane Knuth slammed the forced withdrawal of the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill.

In a ruling tabled on July 1, Mr Pitt said because the bill created a right for members of the proposed Cairns-based Advisory Committee to be paid expenses, the bill was out of order.

But Mr Knuth said the committee would operate in a voluntary capacity.

“In my 20 years in parliament, I have never been forced to withdraw a private member’s bill on what I would call a technicality,” he said.

He said the bill offered an economic opportunity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through the establishment of a crocodile industry in Queensland.

Senior statesman Scarface rules Daintree River, despite having few teeth and plenty of young male crocodiles seeking to claim his patch. There are about 70 adult crocodiles in the Daintree River. Picture: David White

“Over 80 per cent of the crocodile population in the state is located north of Cairns and the increase in numbers has become alarming, which is why it’s logical to manage the problem locally,” Mr Knuth said.

A Department of Environment, Science and Innovation spokesman said DESI had a world-leading crocodile management program which had been endorsed by an independent panel of experts.

A 2022 review recommended DESI consider annual removal of a modest number of crocodiles of more than 2.4m in length on the populated east coast.

The DESI policy is that crocodiles are targeted for removal where they display dangerous behaviours around or toward humans.

A mature male crocodile keeps a wary look out on the banks of Daintree River. Picture: David White

“Statistics show that most attacks are made by crocs not reported or seen in an area until the moment of attack,” its report stated.

“The population started from a very low base, recovery is slow and highly variable across the state.

“The crocodile population in Queensland is highly unlikely to reach the size or the density of the Northern Territory due to lack of suitable habitat,” it stated.

“While the population has continued to increase relatively slowly along the east coast, the average size of crocodiles has reduced in this area – this is likely to be a consequence of the regular removal of ‘problem crocodiles’ under the management program.”

Most recently in the Far North Edward Warusam, Kevin Darmody and Andy Heard lost their lives to croc attacks.

Originally published as Katter Party’s proposal for croc trophy-hunting quashed