A North Queensland Senator has pointed to the recent croc bite incident at Palmer Sea Reef and said it demonstrates the failure of state Labor's crocodile management plan. 

Senator Ian Macdonald, who is based in Townsville, has criticised Labor’s plan as inefficient and ineffective and called it an irresponsible wind-back of the previous LNP government’s approach.

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“The Newman government had it right: remove any and all crocs from populated areas, and specified zones where they pose an unacceptable risk to human populations.

“I am from Ayr in the Burdekin Delta sugar district of north Queensland and crocodiles are a real and present danger in the creeks and rivers,” said the Senator.

“But despite the real risk posed by these animals to populations, under the Labor plan fewer crocodiles will be removed or relocated. This is nonsense and will put lives at risk.

“The LNP strategy should be continued which is the culling and management of all crocodiles in and around specified populated areas and in proximity to any beaches used by tourists or locals,” said the Senator.

Senator Macdonald said that the need to effectively manage the crocodile threat was exemplified by the recent attack on a golf course at Port Douglas.

“The Labor government in Brisbane need to be placing greater value on human life and human safety than on the safety of crocodile populations.

“This is especially the case in built-up areas where these animals are a danger to local families and tourists alike,” he said.

What do you think? 

Should crocodiles in populated areas be removed or culled?