Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MP for Hill, Shane Knuth, has unleashed a scathing attack on the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee’s decision to reject the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025, labelling it an insult to the people of North Queensland.
The committee’s primary recommendations, to put up more signs and run more education campaigns, has been condemned as a shameful slap in the face to communities that deal with crocodiles every single day.
Mr Knuth said he would not be backing off his plan to rid waterways of dangerous crocodiles, rejecting the Committee’s finding that more croc awareness programs are needed.
Mareeba Shire Council has weighed in supporting the efforts of Mr Knuth trying to protect the shire from encroaching salt water crocodiles, expressing its sincere disappointment that the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 was not approved.
Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt
Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt said this Bill was a significant step towards addressing the growing concerns in the community about the introduced feral population of saltwater crocodiles.
“Despite this setback, we extend our gratitude to the Member for Hill, MP Shane Knuth, for his unwavering support and ongoing advocacy on behalf of our region,” Cr Wyatt said.
“Shane has consistently championed the rights and concerns of our farmers, lifestyle block owners, and communities especially within Zone F. His commitment to ensuring our voices are heard at the highest levels of government has not gone unnoticed.
“Through his efforts, Mareeba Shire Council was able to directly contribute to the broader discussion and highlight the unique challenges we face.
“While we are disappointed in the overall outcome, we recognise with cautious optimism that the committee’s recommendation to consider modifying existing zone boundaries to address atypical crocodile populations is a potential step forward. If enacted, this could deliver on the very objective Mareeba Shire Council has long pursued – the expansion of Zone F to include the Barron River tributary within our shire.”
Mareeba Shire Council remained committed to advocating for the safety and wellbeing of residents and landowners and would continue to push for tangible action especially for the removal of the Feral Saltwater crocodile population.
“North Queenslanders are being treated with absolute contempt, by a committee that doesn’t have a single member north of Hervey Bay,” Mr Knuth said.
“We don’t need more Croc-Wise signs. We need real action to deal with an exploding croc population that is putting lives at risk.”
Mr Knuth said the committee’s failure to even acknowledge the growing scale of the threat shows how detached Brisbane decision-makers are from life in the North.
“There was public uproar when there were rumored sightings of crocs at Stradbroke island and Noosa, yet in North Queensland, our pristine waterways are infested with crocodiles.
Locals are told to ‘just read the sign’ and stay out of the water.”
The Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025, tabled by Mr Knuth earlier this year, proposed:
- A zero-tolerance approach to crocodiles in populated waterways.
- Establishment of a Queensland Crocodile Authority (QCA) in Cairns.
- Support for Indigenous-led crocodile management and industry development.
- Clear legislation that prioritises human life over crocodiles.
Mr Knuth said the rejection of the bill ignores the irrefutable evidence that North Queenslanders are in danger.
“As crocodile numbers explode and the human population in the North continues to grow, we are guaranteed to see more near misses, more injuries and more deaths.”
“This isn’t fear-mongering this is what our community lives with. My office and I receive continual reports of large, aggressive crocodiles on farms and in popular swimming spots.
This is not an illusion. It’s a crisis.”
Mr Knuth also called out the “wokeness” of the major parties, highlighted in the tabled report, where it was noted that many submitters told the committee that fundamentally Queensland does not have a crocodile problem; Queensland has a people problem.
“If this is what the committee wants to highlight then there is a serious problem as it is probably the most insensitive, woke comment I have heard for a long time.
This does not represent the majority of views on crocodile management of those living in North Queensland.
It’s frustrating when a committee made up of southern MP’s believes they know what North Queenslanders want and its another example of the complete disconnect between northern and southern Queensland.”
Mr Knuth urged North Queenslanders to stand up and demand better.
“We deserve the same right to feel safe in our communities and enjoy our waterways and beaches as anyone else does living in Queensland.
These recommendations are a joke and North Queenslanders should be furious.”
The LNP Member for Cook, David Kempton, declined to comment.
