Call to beef up regulator power and punish reckless influencers

A Far North Queensland Instagrammer has filmed himself plunging more than 10m off an embankment into the Tully River, a known waterway for crocodiles, sparking outrage among wildlife advocates. Watch the video.

A Far North Queensland Instagrammer has filmed himself plunging more than 10m off an embankment into the Tully River, sparking outrage among wildlife advocates.

The recent video uploaded to social media shows Cassowary Coast fisho, Daniel Colombini, jumping into the river before swimming to a boat nearby.

“It’s bloody hot, I tell ya that. Better do a cliff jump off Tully River ... the boat’s going to pick us up when we jump off,” he says.

“We’ll see what happens aye?”

Cassowary Coast fisho Daniel Colombini. Picture: Instagram

Another picture on Colombini's Instagram account. Picture: Instagram

The video shows Mr Colombini using a selfie-stick to film himself jumping off the cliff.

He can be seen resurfacing before he swims to the boat nearby.

The video has enraged wildlife advocates who say changes to the Nature Conservation Act need to allow the state environmental regulator to take action against people ignoring croc warning signs.

Since a croc attack at the Bloomfield River two weeks ago that resulted in a dog being eaten and a 4.2m saltie being shot there has been a groundswell of support for changes to 30-year-old legislation never designed to control the emerging social media trend of taunting dangerous animals for TikTok and Instagram views.

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

Alister MacPhee has been accused of setting up a camera at the remote Bloomfield River boat ramp and filming an encounter with a large croc. In the video, it’s clear the prank went horribly wrong after he was bitten on the leg and his dog Molly was taken.

Alister MacPhee and his dog Molly before the pair were attacked by a big croc on the Bloomfield River on Wednesday, February 22. Picture: Facebook

Following strong calls for Mr MacPhee to be fined the Department of Environment and Science stated “no offence has been committed under any legislation administered by DES”.

Adviser to celebrated environmentalist Bob Irwin, Amanda French, said changes to the Nature Conservation Act were needed.

“It seems like there is a lot of buck passing and at the end of the day this is a public safety issue and someone has to address it,” she said.

There have been calls for actual penalties for those that ignore croc warning signs. Picture: Tim Marsden

“That man was warned by members of the Indigenous community, he was from the NT, he was from croc country, and you can’t say he didn’t know the dangers.

“I just don’t feel the public are satisfied with the responses provided by DES in their statements.

“What has come out of this is that there needs to be a change to the legislation.”

Comments issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries stating “no animal welfare complaint has been received” in regard to the treatment of a domestic dog have also come under fire.

Cairns Regional Council warning signs at boat ramps across the region. Picture: Duncan Watersports

Many have refuted the stance by DAF that no complaints have been made including Ms French and Cairns-based wildlife guide Matt Cornish who said he had made animal cruelty complaints to the RSPCA, the environment minister and minister for agriculture.

The former Queensland Police officer turned environmental advocate said reform that considered emerging social media habits was overdue.

Cassowary Coast Instagrammer Daniel Colombini jumps from a cliff into the Tully River.

“No doubt the introduction of an offence around reckless behaviour would be a deterrent going forward for those seeking online fame on social media,” he said.

Ms French said a recent video of a Cassowary Coast fisho jumping into the Tully River highlighted an inability of the regulator to take action against those ignoring croc wise messaging.

“In his statement he said there are no consequences for doing this,” she said.

“If there’s no action taken (how can DES) be comfortable with croc wise messaging.”

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Originally published as Call to beef up regulator power and punish reckless influencers