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.
Let’s send the entire crocodile committee up there for swimming lessons………
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Put up more signs they say, well I’m pretty sure that crocodiles can’t read.
Tony B: I have told you what needs to happen ,so what is the point of your comment?How to do it explained in an article Cairns News did on my effort down here, with the local council:
https://cairnsnews.org/2024/01/09/council-watch-groups-bleat-about-unaccountability-but-reject-liability-solution/
Lots of people will have read this article, but not many of them have “twigged” on it as a method of achieving redress via the commercial liability process.
This is not surprising, as many people are incapable of actually recognising information for what it actually is, and are also incapable of using that information to best effect.
Not to blow my own trumpet too loudly, but I am absolutely capable of doing the above, as the proof is there in that bit of an achievement.
Fifty-five businesses saved, and likely over 200 jobs, as there are some major employers up that street.
And they have been trading, unencumbered, for over six years now, with not many having an inkling of what was done for them.
You can hear my address to the council at the 42 minute mark.
Get with the bloody program, will you?
Such a fun way to play classics! Hypakle
I hope none of those Aussies decides to take the law into their own hands, and utilizing a pistol-sized crossbow–Ballista Bat Reverse comes to mind–and sending razor heads into the necks or heart/lung regions of crocodiles basking on the shore. I especially hope they don’t mount red dot sights on said crossbows, as it makes them wickedly accurate…
I dunno sports fans, make sure you have a high powered rifle with you when ever you’re near these croc infested areas, and dont be afraid to use it if needed , also these clowns need to be accountable for their decisions, if those decisions to protect the crocs are made at the expense of business and lively hood there needs to be compensation paid or these clowns need to be sued not at government level but at individual level, you guys up north need to find out who they are and where they live and make yourselves known to them after hours, do you get my drift here?
If you manage to set up a north Queensland state im coming to live up there, ive had enough of this failed state called Victoria, I have a question for you all: what is the definition of a failed state? answer: crumbling and poor government infrastructure, or Victoria
My letter to the Cairns Post, Shane Knuth and Lenore
Wyatt, the Mareeba Deputy Mayor:
:In regard to the crocodile safety issue that is something of a controversy in the North several things come to mind.
The main role of government-and local councils and police, too-and which is Constitutionally mandated is to protect life and property.
If governments fail in this regard due to policy considerations, especially from the state government’s Health Environment and Innovation Committee’s decisions, then all parties associated with any failure to properly manage the crocs are liable to pay compensation to all and any victims, and can be sued to achieve compensation.
Whilst I live in Victoria, I have an adult son living in Cairns, and, should my son to grief via a croc attack, I will be the first to sue all parties concerned.’
Liability is the key to all things POLICY-related.
Catch a couple of dozen croc’s and release them in the Brisbane and Noosa rivers. Stand back and watch the fun. Bet you get quick change of mind.
More signs will not make rivers and water holes swimmable.
Who are the individuals in Brisbane on the committee.
They are one voice and one opinion.
The list of names should appear here and everywhere.
The article referred to introduced crocs. What does that mean?
The very reason we need a referendum.
For this decision and many other decisions.
To take the power away from fools, morons and dickheads in general.
And put the decision making into the hands of the people who think & matter.
Shoot the crocs though the skins should be turned into fashion items.
The meat could be sold. A win win.
Start the referendum campaign starting now.
AS geo-physical engineering operations (the cover-story for UN climate change / warming BS) continues apace, the feral saltwater croc problem will continue to move South down the Qld coast. And when they colonize Moreton Bay, they will bite the Brisbane Crocodile Committee in the ass.
The Big Pineapple needs a solution to feral crocs now. The UNIparty Communist state wants to restrict the human movement with NO GO ZONES especially for recreation. Crocs like AbCorp created exclusion zones for Australians are part of the bigger picture.
THE GOVT HAS INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE ELITISTS ie BILLY GOAT GATES TO CULL THE POPULATION AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER METHOD, I’M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE LIKE POISONING US WITH FAKE FOOD AND CONCOCTIONS THAT THEY CALL JET STREAMS RAINING UPON US.
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