A LEADING Port Douglas tourism identity said today if visitors to this area did not feel safe because of a crocodile threat, they would not return.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Katter Australian Party at the Port Douglas Community Centre, the owner of By The Sea Port Douglas, Wendy Crossman, said humans’ lives had to be a priority.

“Visitors to this part of the world come here for R&R and they want to know they can enjoy the beach in a safe environment.

“If there is a fear of crocodiles and it is dangerous, the likelihood of them not returning is very real,” she said to an 80-strong audience. 

Federal member for Kennedy Bob Katter, Shane Knuth (Dalrymple) and Robbie Katter (Mt Isa) met with residents in Mareeba and Innisfail before today’s meeting in Port Douglas on a consultation tour about proposed legislation regarding crocodile culling, safari shooting and egg harvesting.

And based on these information-gathering sessions, it will form part of legislation which will be drafted and introduced by Katter's Australian Party before the end of May. The legislation will focus on introducing culling, safari hunting, crocodile removal and egg collection initiatives.

Ms Crossman was one of many attendees (at the meeting) who voiced their concerns or raised issues about the continuing threat of crocodiles which has escalated over the past three to five years.

Katter’s Australian Party hold the belief that crocodiles now own the water – and not humans as was once the case – and it has impacted our quality of life.

Besides pushing for the need to cull the reptiles, they are also proposing that wealthy tourists who travel to North Queensland should be able to shoot crocodiles on special tours run by the Indigenous people, who could also benefit from economic spin-offs if croc eggs were returned to them.

Porsha Tyrrell, a Daintree River tour guide, told the meeting it is imperative that tourists should be educated.

“I cannot stress the importance of education. We need to be smarter than these predators. We have to treat each crocodile the same – there is every chance they can kill us.

“Ninety per cent of crocodile attacks have been on locals and the onus is on us to educate the tourists. We need to provide relevant information,” she said.

Bob Katter, who would not be drawn into a report that said he would not support the Queensland Government’s budget if culling was not introduced, reiterated the point that there are now areas where people can no longer swim because of crocodiles.

“It saddens me that we cannot swim in the Golden Water Hole or Lake Placid. You can offer me a million bucks, and I would still not go near those waters,” he said.

He echoed his party’s view that there are numerous economic benefits which could be capitalised upon and it’s time we got our territory back where we can enjoy a quality of life we once had.

Rob Katter, Bob’s son, said you don’t need a $5million study to know there is a crocodile problem.

“We are here to try and solve what is a huge problem. We are open to consultation with both parties and it is our strong belief that action must be taken,” he said.

Billy Gordon, the member for Cook, whose electorate includes the Douglas Shire, was conspicuous by his absence.       

 
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