Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill sought to create the Queensland Crocodile Authority, a new Cairns-based body responsible for managing all aspects of crocodile control across the state. It aimed to protect North Queenslanders from crocodile attacks by removing crocodiles from populated waterways, while expanding the commercial crocodile industry and empowering Indigenous landholders to manage crocodiles on their land. The bill's second reading failed and it did not become law.
Who it affects
North Queensland residents who swim and recreate in waterways would have gained stronger safety protections through a zero-tolerance zone requiring crocodile removal within 48 hours. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander landholders would have gained new economic opportunities through crocodile and egg management on their land.
Key changes
- Would have created the Queensland Crocodile Authority based in Cairns to take over all crocodile management from existing departments
- Would have established zero-tolerance zones in populated waterways requiring crocodile removal within 48 hours by killing or relocation to farms or sanctuaries
- Would have empowered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander landholders to manage, harvest, or allow paid hunting of crocodiles on their land with cultural sensitivity protections
- Would have expanded crocodile egg harvesting beyond the current 5,000 egg pilot program, with new permits and Indigenous community incentives
- Would have restricted new crocodile farm licences to Australian-owned entities and required all crocodile carcasses to be fully utilised with no waste
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee19 Feb 2025View Hansard
Referred to Health, Environment and Innovation Committee
5 members · Chair: Robert Molhoek
The Health, Environment and Innovation Committee examined the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 over several months, receiving over 100 submissions and holding public hearings in Brisbane and Cairns. The committee recommended that the bill not be passed, finding that the bill's premise of increasing crocodile populations and attacks was not well supported by evidence, and that culling was not an effective safety measure. The committee instead made seven additional recommendations to strengthen existing crocodile management, including expanding automatic removal zones, improving public reporting, and increasing community education. The Queensland Government supported all eight of the committee's recommendations.
Key findings (5)
- The committee found that the bill's central premise -- that crocodile populations and attacks are increasing -- was not adequately supported by evidence.
- Expert witnesses told the committee that culling has not been used anywhere in the world as a management option to improve safety, and that eliminating all crocodiles would be necessary to guarantee safe waterways.
- Stakeholder submissions overwhelmingly opposed unmitigated culling of crocodiles, with many emphasising that human behaviour and complacency are the primary drivers of human-crocodile conflict.
- The committee found the bill's definition of 'crocodile' to be problematic, being simultaneously too narrow (excluding freshwater crocodiles) and too broad (permitting removal of all crocodiles in an area regardless of individual behaviour).
- The Member for Hill had consulted only seven stakeholders in the development of the bill and its previous iterations since 2017, which the committee considered insufficient.
Recommendations (8)
- The committee recommends that the Bill not be passed.
- The committee recommends that DETSI expand 'Zone F' (atypical habitat with automatic removal) in the Mareeba Shire and engage with Mareeba Shire Council to determine appropriate boundaries.
- The committee recommends that DETSI include real-time reporting data of crocodile sightings and removals on the QWildlife application, with support from the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small Business in developing an improved interface.
- The committee recommends that permanent educational signage be placed at boat ramps in North Queensland, with specific instructions for visitors relating to avoiding human-crocodile conflict around the water.
- The committee recommends that permanent educational signage be placed at locations with high tourist activity, like the Airlie Beach Marina and Palm Cove, and areas with consistent, verified sightings, like Lake Placid and Babinda.
- The committee recommends that DETSI develop a marketing campaign to be deployed in Croc Country to ensure that all persons living in, or arriving to, the area are aware of the risks posed by crocodiles.
- The committee recommends that DETSI produce educational materials in traditional languages used in Far North Queensland, as well as the most common languages amongst tourist populations.
- The committee recommends that DETSI develop a more fulsome engagement process with Indigenous communities to ensure that the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan operates in tandem with traditional knowledge, without compromising the timeliness of removals.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading9 Dec 2025View Hansard
That the bill be now read a second time
Party VoteFinal vote on whether to pass the KAP's Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 to the next stage. Both the LNP government and ALP opposition opposed the bill, preferring the government's revised Queensland Crocodile Management Plan. Resolved in the negative under standing order 106(10) without a recorded division.
The motion was defeated.
What is a party vote?
This was a party vote. Each party's Whip declared how their members voted without a physical count, so individual votes were not recorded. Party votes are used when all members of a party are expected to vote the same way.
▸8 members spoke1 support7 oppose
Moved the bill and passionately argued for reducing crocodile numbers in North Queensland waterways to restore public safety. Cited eight years of community consultation, multiple crocodile attacks and deaths, and pointed to the Northern Territory's culling program as a successful model. Proposed establishing a Queensland Crocodile Authority based in Cairns, zero-tolerance zones, expanded egg harvesting, and Indigenous-led hunting programs.
“People have died. Others have barely escaped with their lives. Our recreational quality of life has been ruined. Families cannot enjoy the pristine beaches and crystal clear creeks and rivers that generations before them swam in without fear.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
As Environment Minister, tabled the government's revised Queensland Crocodile Management Plan as the preferred alternative. Argued the bill was fundamentally flawed, would compromise response times by centralising staff in Cairns, and that widespread culling could create a false sense of security. Noted the government supported six of seven committee recommendations.
“The government will not be supporting this bill. That is in line with the committee's key recommendation and here is why. The bill is fundamentally flawed.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Opposed the bill as shadow environment spokesperson, arguing culling is not supported by scientific evidence. Defended Labor's record on crocodile management including the QWildlife app and $4.175 million investment. Noted the crocodile fatality rate of 0.4 deaths per year is lower than deaths from dogs, and that the population has largely plateaued.
“You cannot eliminate—which means to completely remove, not reduce—the threat to human life from saltwater crocodiles unless you eliminate all crocodiles—every single one.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Opposed the bill as a local North Queensland member, arguing it creates more problems than it solves through unnecessary red tape. Supported the government's revised Crocodile Management Plan instead, highlighting new targeted removal zones on the Mulgrave River and annual community consultation periods.
“While the safety and wellbeing of our communities must always remain our top priority, this bill creates more problems than it solves.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Opposed the bill drawing on his extensive experience visiting Australia Zoo's crocodile research program at the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve. Argued the bill is not based on science, that zero tolerance zones would create a false sense of security, and that crocodile management differs fundamentally from shark control due to crocodiles being apex predators.
“Unfortunately, this bill is not based on science or evidence. It ignores the work and progress of the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan and other scientific research that has been implemented for over eight years.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Speaking on his first day in parliament, opposed the bill and championed the government's revised management plan. Announced the Tyto Wetlands in Ingham would be upgraded to an active removal zone. Argued centralising staff in Cairns under a Queensland Crocodile Authority would take resources further from communities like Hinchinbrook.
“That is why, on my very first day in this place, I am proud to share an important win we have delivered for our Ingham community. Following extensive community feedback, we will be upgrading the high-traffic areas of the Tyto Wetlands to an active removal zone.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Opposed the bill arguing it is not supported by science or crocodile behaviour evidence. Drew on conversations with Australia Zoo experts to argue that removing crocodiles from territories does not make waterways safe, as other crocodiles will move in. Noted only one in 200 hatchlings reaches maturity, undermining claims of overpopulation.
“To say that simply removing a crocodile means a waterway is now completely safe is a dangerous statement to make.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard
Opposed the bill as the member representing an electorate with about half the state's crocodile population. Supported the committee's recommendation to reject the bill, arguing it creates more bureaucracy and an unworkable hunting regime. Praised the government's revised management plan, particularly new reportable removal zones in the Barron catchment and Southedge Dam.
“The problem with the Katter bill is it creates more bureaucracy, creates an unworkable hunting regime and risks public safety.”— 2025-12-09View Hansard