Federal Independent MP Bob Katter has threatened to sue the Queensland government over any future human deaths from bat diseases.

Mr Katter signed a $1000 cheque, and said if necessary, the money will go towards mounting a prosecution against the Premier and relevant ministers, who should be held criminally negligent for failing to remove the mammals from highly popular areas, according to News.com.au.

In March this year, Mr Katter said his Australia Party sought legal advice regarding his pressuring the LNP to remove legal protection of Queensland’s bat colonies. 

“We have had discussions with lawyers and understand that there are legal implications if the Government does not act immediately,’ he said at the time, in a statement on his Australia Party website.

His warning comes after an eight year-old Far North Queensland boy died in February after contracting the rare bat-borne lyssavirus from a bat scratch in December last year, at Long Island. In May, a horse in southwest Queensland was the first to return a positive test for lyssavirus, previously thought to only affect bats and humans.

Mr Katter is renewing calls for removal and culling of flying foxes. In 2012, he said Queenslanders shouldn’t have to apply for permits to evict flying foxes.

Last week, The Newsport reported local Queensland councils face a lengthy, costly and uphill battle to attempt to relocate urban flying fox colonies. A Griffith University study found the bat breed returns to original roost locations, despite relocation efforts over 10 years.

To read the earlier Newsport article, visit www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/Port-s-flying-foxes.9590.0.html