Safer Waterways Bill 2018
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill sought to create a Queensland Crocodile Authority based in Cairns to manage saltwater crocodile populations across the state. It responded to growing community concern about increasing crocodile numbers and attacks in North Queensland, with 25 recorded attacks between 1985 and 2015 (seven fatal) and three attacks in the year before the bill was introduced (two fatal). The bill's second reading failed and it did not become law.
Who it affects
North Queensland residents and recreational waterway users would have gained safer waterways, while Indigenous and rural landholders could have managed crocodiles on their property and earned income from egg harvesting or paid hunting.
Key changes
- Create a Queensland Crocodile Authority headquartered in Cairns with a Director appointed by the Legislative Assembly and a seven-member advisory board
- Require rogue crocodiles in urban areas or recreation spots to be killed or relocated to approved farms within 48 hours
- Legalise crocodile egg harvesting under permit, modelled on the Northern Territory's program
- Allow Indigenous and private landholders to apply for authorisation to manage crocodiles on their land, including paid hunting
- Restrict crocodile farming licences to Australian-owned entities and require that no part of a killed crocodile's carcass is wasted
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee21 Mar 2018View Hansard
Referred to State Development, Natural Resources and Agricultural Industry Development Committee
The Innovation, Tourism Development and Environment Committee examined the Safer Waterways Bill 2018 over six months, receiving 34 submissions and holding public hearings in Brisbane, Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and Mackay. The committee recommended the bill not be passed, finding that its provisions to allow untrained people to kill crocodiles and potentially legalise trophy hunting posed unacceptable risks to public safety. The committee also found that the bill's culling and hunting provisions were likely to breach international, national and state obligations, threatening Queensland's crocodile farming export industry, and that its restrictions on foreign investment in crocodile farming were ill-conceived.
Key findings (5)
- The majority of submitters and public hearing attendees did not support the bill's proposed measures for crocodile management.
- The bill's provisions allowing untrained landowners to kill crocodiles and permit others to hunt on their land for a fee would create serious public safety risks and potentially legalise trophy hunting.
- The proposed culling and harvesting regime was likely to breach Australia's obligations under CITES and the EPBC Act, which could shut down Queensland's existing crocodile farming export industry.
- Queensland lacks the population monitoring data needed to set sustainable harvesting quotas, unlike the Northern Territory which has conducted long-term population surveys since the 1970s.
- The Department of Environment and Science advised that the bill's policy objectives could be achieved through amendments to existing legislation without the need for a new Queensland Crocodile Authority.
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends the Safer Waterways Bill 2018 not be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading26 Mar 2019View Hansard
That the bill be now read a second time
Vote on whether to pass the Safer Waterways Bill 2018, a KAP private member's bill to establish a Queensland Crocodile Authority in Cairns to manage crocodile populations through culling permits, egg harvesting, and removal of dangerous crocodiles from waterways. Defeated 5-83.
The motion was defeated.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (5)
Noes (83)
▸18 members spoke6 support12 oppose
Strongly supported the bill, arguing that crocodile numbers have recovered to a point where they threaten North Queensland communities and that a Queensland Crocodile Authority based in Cairns would manage the species through permits, egg harvesting, and removal of dangerous crocodiles.
“In the north we do not want a Cross River Rail system; we just want our river systems back.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard
As the bill's sponsor, moved the second reading and argued for the creation of a Queensland Crocodile Authority to manage crocodile numbers, citing dramatic increases in sightings, beach closures, declining surf lifesaving registrations, and threats to the tourism industry.
“Communities across North Queensland are constantly reporting significant increases in croc numbers. Once popular waterways are now infested with crocs.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard
As Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, opposed the bill, arguing it promotes unsafe ideas about conduct around crocodiles, citing experts including Terri Irwin who said the bill would increase the risk of attacks. Pointed to the government's existing $5.8 million crocodile management funding and Crocwise education program.
“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, stated the government will not support the bill, arguing it threatens public safety by allowing untrained people to kill crocodiles, risks Australia's CITES obligations, and ignores the science behind Queensland's crocodile management program.
“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
Acknowledged crocodile numbers need controlling but argued this bill is not the right vehicle due to risks including overreach and the danger of wounded crocodiles from trophy hunting. Advocated for the LNP's own policy of professional removal from urban areas and commercial egg harvesting.
“While well intentioned, this bill is another case of overreach.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard
Opposed the bill while articulating the LNP's own crocodile management policy of removing all problem crocodiles within three days regardless of size. Criticised the bill's provisions for safari hunting and indiscriminate shooting as going too far.
“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
Supported the bill on the basis of conservation through commerce, arguing that doing nothing leads to vigilante killing of crocodiles behind the scenes and that a structured permit system would better protect the species while managing numbers.
“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.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard
As committee chair, opposed the bill, noting the committee recommended it not be passed because the majority of submitters did not support it, it posed unacceptable public safety risks through allowing untrained people to kill crocodiles, and its foreign investment restrictions threatened the crocodile farming industry.
“The potential for this bill to allow untrained people to kill crocodiles and also legalise trophy hunting poses a serious and completely unacceptable risk to public safety.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard
Supported the bill as a North Queensland solution to a North Queensland problem, citing growing crocodile sightings at tourist locations including Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island and Cannonvale Beach, and warning of catastrophic consequences for the tourism industry if a fatality occurred.
“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 are clearly increasing and pose a real problem for North Queensland communities, criticising the government for prioritising crocodile safety over human safety, and defending the proposed authority model.
“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 defended the proposed Queensland Crocodile Authority, citing rising crocodile sighting numbers from 177 in 2010 to 800 in 2018, the loss of recreational waterways in North Queensland, and 77% community support for a cull in the Cairns Post.
“All we are trying to achieve is to claim back our waterways; that is very simple.”— 2019-04-02View Hansard
Opposed the bill, arguing it is based on fearmongering and political expediency rather than responsible policy, noting that the bill's author could not explain how the proposed authority would be funded and that the foreign ownership restriction would harm the crocodile farming industry.
“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
Opposed the bill, arguing it falls short of the mark. Advocated instead for the LNP's policy of zero-tolerance removal of dangerous crocodiles within three days and a genuine egg-harvesting industry, but opposed safari hunting and broadscale culling.
“Whilst the Safer Waterways Bill contains a number of elements that I agree with, there are other elements that I oppose.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard
Opposed the bill, arguing it fails to recognise the vastness of crocodile habitat, cannot guarantee safer waterways, and poses unacceptable risks by giving the public a false sense of security.
“No waterway in crocodile country can ever be considered to be crocodile free. I do not support this bill.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard
Opposed the bill as a committee member, arguing better outcomes could be achieved through the existing framework with improved resources, incorporating Indigenous rangers into the crocodile management plan, and reclassifying zoning in consultation with impacted communities.
“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, arguing it would put more people at risk by creating a false sense of security and allowing untrained people to shoot crocodiles, and citing crocodile experts who say the bill would make attacks more likely.
“I believe the proposed Safer Waterways Bill is not going to make our waterways safer: I think it is going to make a crocodile attack more likely.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard
Opposed the bill, noting its flaws including threats to the CITES-certified crocodile leather industry and foreign investment restrictions. Advocated for the LNP's zero-tolerance croc removal policy as the alternative, criticising the government's three-month removal KPI.
“This bill has a number of flaws, and one in particular is the threat to the crocodile skin industry if there is an uncontrolled culling of crocodiles and a loss of the CITES certification in Australia.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard
Opposed the bill, expressing concerns about allowing members of the public to hunt and kill crocodiles, which would conflict with the Wildlife Trade Management Plan and CITES requirements.
“I think it is really concerning to suggest that we allow members of the public to hunt and kill crocodiles.”— 2019-03-26View Hansard