Bob Irwin Snr slams Bob Katter’s crocodile management calls

Bob Irwin senior has taken aim at Bob Katter’s crocodile cull calls sensationally blasting the maverick MP a “d***head” in a nuclear war of words. Vote our poll on which side you’re on.

Bob Irwin has slammed Bob Katter’s crocodile management calls.

The father of legendary croc hunter Steve Irwin has sensationally called maverick Federal MP Bob Katter “a d***head” in a fiery war of words over crocodile culling erupted in Queensland.

Veteran conservationist Bob Irwin, 86, unleashed on the outspoken politician, slamming his obsession with the apex predator and accusing him of having no clue about crocodile management.

“He’s a d***head...yeah, put it on the record... and you can actually tell him who said it as well,” the Australia Zoo founder told this masthead exclusively on Wednesday, after fronting a state parliamentary hearing into crocodile management.

“He’s not listening to the people that know, he has no idea of how the environment works, and that’s his problem.”

Mr Irwin leapt to the defence of his estranged daughter-in-law Terri Irwin, who was told by Mr Katter to live in “the real world” after she criticised the “recycled” bill.

He said politicians pushing for croc culls were ignoring scientists’ expertise.

But Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter hit back furiously, accusing the Irwins of being southern-based “entertainers” with little understanding of the real fears faced by regional communities.

And he insisted his father’s expertise came from listening to his North Queensland constituents for half a century.

Mr Katter Snr was famous for his colourful views about crocodiles.

In 2017 over a discussion on same-sex marriage, he said, “I ain’t spending any time on it because in the meantime, every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in north Queensland.”

Dressed in his trademark khaki clothes amid the more formally dressed parliamentary staff, Mr Irwin said most crocodile attacks stemmed from irresponsible behaviour, often in areas marked with warning signs.

He said exclusion zones and crocodile removals would backfire, with juvenile crocodiles quickly moving in to replace those taken out.

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has long pushed for a crocodile cull. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Steve and I have learnt from the word go that if you want to be successful with anything you want to do with crocodiles, you’ve got to get inside their head figuratively,” he said.

“So we spent a lot of time doing nothing else but observing what crocodiles do.

“We’ve been in this situation before where somebody has called for the culling of crocodiles.

“We don’t listen to the researchers and scientists.”

Mr Irwin’s comments followed concerns raised by Mareeba and Whitsunday council representatives, who claimed crocodile populations were growing in public waterways.

While unable to provide data, they said sightings were sparking fear among farmers, who had limited power to cull the animals, and fuelling negative perceptions that could harm regional tourism.