from Jim O’Toole
The Queensland Police Service, under pressure from the Labor Party is attempting to crucify a 69 year old Cairns resident, Errol Copley, for catching a 3 metre crocodile on a 68lb mackerel fishing line. The croc eventually died.
Wildlife officers from the Environment Department came across the dead croc when looking for ‘illegal’ fish nets in a creek running through Mr Copley’s farm at Deeral, south of Cairns
The officers set up a covert camera which caught Mr Copley disposing of the dead croc on January 18.
He was subsequently fined $500 in the Cairns Magistrates Court.
Mr Copley said he had no intention of catching such a large croc on a set, light line but due to its short length the croc was unable to return to the water after the hook pierced the gut wall and lodged in the reptile’s heart.
The semi-retired cane farmer and commercial fisherman removes mangrove shoots on mud flats near the Cairns Esplanade as a part-time job.
Police want to make an example of Mr Copley by dragging him back to the Magistrates Court arguing his original $500 fine and no conviction would not deter farmers from slaughtering crocs.
Police and the Labor Party’s environment department want the fine increased to $7000.
Herein lies Mr Copley’s defence.
Ever since former Premier Peter Beattie in 2001 unlawfully altered the Queensland Constitution by copyrighting Acts of Parliament to himself including the Public Service Act and removing the Queen, public servants are now responsible only to political party corporations.
Police, employed by the corporation and held to the Public Service Act since then have been unlawfully operating as judge, jury and executioner. Demanding any penalty is unlawful.
A Magistrate sitting in an unconstitutional court can determine the amount of a fine however Mr Copley would be foolish if he paid it.
The corporate State Labor government and its public servants are so far out of touch they have no idea how many crocs have been killed over the past decade by fed-up farmers, fishermen, Aborigines and tourists.
Anecdotal evidence would suggest many hundreds of crocs are killed each year across the north yet their numbers have exploded in places where the dangerous saurians have never been seen before.
Cairns News encourages farmers to rid the rivers of ferocious salt water crocodiles by whatever means possible.
The police allege Mr Copley’s crime was serious because the death occurred “over a prolonged period” and taking the carcass exasperated the offence.
Mr Copley said he removed the dead croc and performed an autopsy so he could get his hook back.
Why would he leave a dead croc in a waterway to pollute the water?
Well done Mr Copley you have performed an honourable public safety service. – Cairns News editorial board.
Hi Annie regional Queensland seldom votes Labor but the rampant ALP voting fraud gives them a leg up each time.Ed
So the public servants (snerk, snork, giggle) are leaving expensive cameras in the bush to capture images of taxpayers? Good to know, as game/wildlife cameras like that cost a bit, be good to pick them up for free.
They want to watch out, sneaking around as they do, may come across the sort of person that doesn’t welcome stickybeaks. Drug growers might use them for croc bait or pig food!
Hey Bob you say Errol needs to file one of these but you don’t say what it is he needs to file can you please put that info in.
Thanks
Errol needs to file one of these.Also in his favour is that the Queen will have been written out of theLaw in Queensland, and therefore no lawyer is practicing legally.Thus they cannot appear in a Court.
Gaz
This is all about raking in MONEY.
A $7.000 fine is nothing to scoff at.
The Labor Party is BROKE.
Due to political MISMANAGEMENT of the PUBLIC PURSE.
Money Is The Root Of All Bullshit.
Why do Queenslanders keep voting corrupt Labor back into power? I can’t work it out! The more power they get, the more they want.
Something has to be done about the crocs.My daughter lives in the tropics and takes their dogs to swim in a safe spot each day.Now there is a sign up to say there are crocs there.For goodness sakes, Queenslanders ,do some thinking and vote Labor out….for your own sakes.Get common sense bac into government….vote for Pauline or Katter.