Safer Waterways Bill 2018

Strongly supports the bill as a necessary measure to make North Queensland waterways safer by establishing a Queensland Crocodile Authority to manage crocodile numbers, which have increased to dangerous levels since protection began in 1974.

“In North Queensland we do things a little differently because the environment we live in is like no other... A balance needs to be found where humans and crocodiles can coexist in Queensland. We need to reduce the risk of crocodile attracts on humans while allowing the species to be sustained.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Moved the second reading and strongly advocated for the bill, arguing it would protect human lives and tourism by creating a Queensland Crocodile Authority to manage crocodile numbers through culling, egg harvesting and relocation.

“This bill is not about wiping out the crocodile population but sensible management so that we can once again enjoy our waterways.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Opposes the bill on the basis that it promotes unsafe ideas about crocodile management and could lead to irresponsible culling. Points to government's existing $5.8 million investment in crocodile management and monitoring programs as the appropriate response.

“My greatest concern with this bill is that it promotes unsafe and concerning ideas about what constitutes 'safe conduct' around crocodiles and potential crocodile habitats.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

As Minister for Environment, strongly opposed the bill, arguing it threatens public safety by allowing untrained people to kill crocodiles, ignores scientific research, risks CITES compliance and could give the public a false sense of security.

“This bill threatens the safety of Queenslanders and tourists, Australia's international obligations for crocodile management and the ongoing viability of Queensland's important crocodile farming industry.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Acknowledges crocodile numbers have increased dramatically and need to be controlled in populated areas, but argues this bill is not the right vehicle due to risks of overreach including suggestions of trophy hunting that could result in wounded crocodiles. Supports the LNP's alternative policy.

“There is no argument that the numbers need to be controlled, particularly in populated areas. Unfortunately, this bill is not the vehicle to achieve this without its fair share of risks. While well intentioned, this bill is another case of overreach.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Did not support the bill due to provisions allowing safari hunting and indiscriminate shooting, but advocated for the LNP's own policy of putting people before crocodiles with faster removal times and sensible egg harvesting.

“This bill, whilst well intentioned, whilst having elements that I do support, has in it elements that do nothing but ensure that it will be derided and give those who do not understand how important this issue of crocodile removal is the opportunity to scoff at it.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Supports the bill on the principle of 'conservation through commerce', arguing that doing nothing leads to vigilante killing of crocodiles without oversight. Advocates for mitigation permits and egg harvesting to give crocodiles commercial value and protect them through regulated management.

“The best thing for crocodiles is to actually make them worth something and then they will be conserved through commerce, rather than being lost to a backyard where someone puts out a hook and catches them and lets them die or shoots them because they think they are a risk.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

As committee chair, opposed the bill on grounds it would allow untrained people to kill crocodiles, legalise trophy hunting, and threaten the crocodile farming industry through restrictions on foreign investment.

“This bill should not be called the Safer Waterways Bill; it should be called the 'Unsafer Waterways Bill'.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Supports the bill as a North Queensland solution to a North Queensland problem, emphasising the growing threat to the tourism industry and public safety. Cites crocodile sightings at tourist destinations including Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island.

“No matter where we sit on the political spectrum, surely the first job of anyone coming into this place is to look after the citizens of Queensland and visitors to our state, to protect our citizens.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, arguing crocodile numbers have dramatically increased and the bill would establish an authority to manage populations while protecting Indigenous employment opportunities in egg harvesting.

“If the government has its way tonight on the Safer Waterways Bill, as would be expected, we should call this 'safer waterways for crocs not humans'.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

As the bill's sponsor, passionately argues that North Queenslanders want their waterways back after crocodile numbers increased to dangerous levels. Notes 77% community support for a cull in local polling and criticises the government for inaction while acknowledging two elements of the bill have been adopted.

“All we are trying to achieve is to claim back our waterways; that is very simple... We want kids to enjoy the quality of life that we enjoyed when we were growing up. They do not have that opportunity currently.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard

Opposed the bill as based on fearmongering and political expediency rather than responsible crocodile management, noting many stakeholders were not consulted and the bill's provisions would breach international obligations.

“I would like to explore this aim of a responsible approach, because I fear this bill is not about a responsible approach to the issue of crocodile management in Queensland but one based on fearmongering, hysteria and political expediency.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Did not support the bill but criticised the government's 90-day removal timeframe as unacceptable, advocating for the LNP's zero-tolerance approach in urban areas with three-day removal and egg harvesting opportunities.

“The LNP's policy on problem crocodiles is simple. We have a zero-tolerance approach to dangerous crocs in urban areas.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it fails to guarantee safer waterways given the vastness of crocodile country and would give the public a false sense of safety while jeopardising CITES compliance.

“No waterway in crocodile country can ever be considered to be crocodile free.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

As a committee member, did not support the bill but acknowledged concerns of Far North Queensland communities, recommending instead incorporating Indigenous rangers into management and improving the existing framework.

“I supported the refusal to recommend the bill for the reasons outlined in the committee report, including that better outcomes could be achieved without creating new levels of authority with greater costs.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill as dangerous and ill-informed, arguing it would put more people at risk by creating a false sense of security and threatening the ecological balance that supports commercial fishing.

“This bill is ill informed, the explanatory notes are woeful, it is dangerous and it does not make our waterways safe—far from it.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Did not support the bill due to flaws including threats to the CITES-certified crocodile leather industry and foreign investment restrictions, but strongly criticised the government's three-month removal timeframe and advocated for LNP policy.

“What people want to see is a change in policy from the government that puts people above crocodiles and takes a strong, active management approach to removing problem crocodiles.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard

Opposed the bill on public safety grounds, expressing concern about allowing members of the public to hunt and kill crocodiles which would breach Commonwealth wildlife trade requirements.

“It is certainly very concerning to think about people going out with guns or goodness knows what in order to kill these animals—legally, apparently.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard