Coronavirus: Kennedy MP Bob Katter ziplines over crocodile pen
There’s one thing that terrifies Bob Katter more than heights and crocodiles. And it’s looming big time for the Far North.
Cairns
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BOB Katter is far more terrified of heights than he is of crocodiles.
But there is one thing that really gives the Member for Kennedy the willies: the prospect of the Far North’s tourism sector collapsing due to the threat of the coronavirus epidemic.
Mr Katter traded his trademark Akubra hat for a crash helmet yesterday to brave the zip line at Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome to soar over a more than four-metre-long saltwater crocodile’s pen.
The 74-year-old did not remove his trademark Aviator-style sunglasses for the PR stunt, and noticeably gasped out of terror while clutching a post, once he had safely traversed the distance over croc Goliath’s pen.
When asked about the zip line, Mr Katter – who has long gunned for culling crocodiles in the wild – believed the giant croc had been “frustrated” at not being able to jump up and grab him.
“He just looked up, and thought ‘Katter’s beaten me again’,” he said.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland has estimated the Far North stands to lose up to $5.5 million a day if coronavirus travel bans extend beyond March 31.
Mr Katter said there needed to be disaster funding made available for the region by the Federal Government.
“It’s most certainly a disaster for us,” he said.
CONCERN FOR TOURISM OPERATORS
PARONELLA Park has faced down two major cyclones over the past nine decades, but coronavirus has its owners very, very worried.
The tourist attraction near Innisfail has experienced a 50 per cent reduction in business since the viral epidemic was identified at the beginning of the year. Park owner Mark Evans said unlike cyclones Larry and Yasi, which both resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage to the attraction, the end to the disease’s economic devastation on the Far North was nowhere in sight.
“This coronavirus is something that is much more challenging, because a cyclone finishes,” he said. He said since record flooding in Townsville early last year, it had been a tough 12 months for the industry.
Originally published as Coronavirus: Kennedy MP Bob Katter ziplines over crocodile pen