Time to cull crocodiles in north Queensland: Katter MPs
Queensland's two Katter's Australian Party MPs have threatened to block the upcoming state budget if the government doesn't back their proposal to cull crocodiles.
The KAP is set to introduce a bill in May that proposes several management strategies, including managed culls and crocodile hunting safaris run by local indigenous communities in remote regions of north and far north Queensland.
Mt Isa MP Robbie Katter said drastic action was needed because the problem was getting out of control.
Cull crocs or we'll block budget: Katter. Source: AAP
"Our obligation is to go down there and vote for the interests of north Queensland and if people are dying and you can't get them to listen, what are you supposed to do?" he said in Cairns on Wednesday.
But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk maintained her government's policies were working in regards to managing the crocodile population, despite acknowledging the reptiles' numbers were increasing.
The KAP's calls follow the death of a 35-year-old spear fisherman near Innisfail last month, as well the mauling of a teen in the same area a few days later.
Queensland's Labor government relies on the crossbench in the hung parliament, in particular the KAP MPs.
However, the KAP would also have to convince the Liberal National Party opposition to join them in blocking the June budget over the issue.
Purebred one-year-old Kelpie pup Rusty was playing near a creek when he was grabbed and devoured by a crocodile. Source: Cairns Post
Earlier in the month a confronting image of a half eaten family dog was released renewing calls for the culling of crocs in North Queensland.
The dog, a purebred kelpie named Rusty, was taken by a large croc at a family property near Innisfail while playing by the waters edge.
The dog’s leg can be seen protruding from the reptile's jaws.
“This image is confronting and frankly heartbreaking for residents who are imagining that dog could have been their beloved pet, or much worse, their child,” MP Shane Knuth told The Cairns Post at the time the image was released.
Queensland MP Shane Knuth has repeatedly called for crocodiles to be culled. Source: AAP
“Attacks are on the rise, the crocs we’re seeing are big, aggressive and territorial, and crocs are surfacing in places they’ve never been before.”
Mr Knuth said the recent rainfall and flooding across the state could lead to more attacks.
“People come to Queensland to enjoy sunshine and beaches, but the image they’re seeing now is croc attacks and croc signs everywhere,” he continued.
“This is a very poor message to promote to international tourism.”
The increasing numbers of crocodile attacks could also jeopardise Queensland's $11 billion tourism industry.
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