Newsroom

December 10, 2025

Katter’s Australian Party has slammed the Government today, declaring the only reason minimal crocodile management reform is finally happening in Queensland is because the KAP forced the Government to stop ignoring North Queenslanders.

Member for Hill Shane Knuth said the Government’s crocodile management announcement is nothing more than a desperate scramble to avoid being embarrassed in regional Queensland.

“Let’s call this exactly what it is, the Government got dragged kicking and screaming into minimal changes because the KAP has applied relentless pressure," Mr Knuth said.

The reforms, including upgrades to high-risk zones in Ingham, Mulgrave and Mareeba, only materialised because the LNP could no longer bury the overwhelming community support for the KAP’s Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill.

“This is a backflip dressed up as a hero moment and it’s only happening because the KAP never backed down,” Mr Knuth said.

“Mareeba Shire Council, Cairns Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council, Carpentaria Land Council and even the LGAQ backed the Bill.

KAP Leader Robbie Katter said the Hinchinbrook reforms are the direct result of years of work by the former KAP Member for Hinchinbrook, not the new LNP MP trying to claim victory after five minutes in the job.

“For the LNP to front-up and pretend they did anything here is laughable,” Mr Katter said.

"They won the seat of Hinchinbrook because of a dirty campaign based on lies, stating a vote for our KAP candidate was a vote for Labor.

However, he and his fellow North Queensland LNP members have been exposed as frauds, who voted with Labor yesterday against the Bill and their own communities.

The mask has slipped and now everyone can see they are no different to Labor.”

Mr Katter said the timing exposes the Government’s fear.

“The minute it became clear the KAP Bill had significant support from regional Queensland the LNP ran for cover and blocked debate until after the Hinchinbrook by-election.”

Mr Knuth said the KAP’s fight will not end until public safety is genuinely restored, pointing out the Northern Territory underwent a review in 2024 to their world leading crocodile management plan and increased their annual allowable culling quota from 300 to 1200.

“The reason, as stated by the NT Environment Minister "Was about public safety. We want to be able to go to our national parks and know that there's waterholes that we can safely swim in."

The crocodile population is exploding in Queensland and action must be taken to implement an annual cull. To say that a cull doesn’t lead to public safety is absurd,” said Knuth.

“Queenslanders deserve to fish, swim, work and live without fear of becoming crocodile bait,” he said.

Mr Katter vowed the KAP will continue pushing for meaningful reforms to crocodile management in the state.

“Only the KAP is willing to take on these issues without fear. We don’t take orders from Brisbane, we take them from the people of North Queensland.”

“Every time crocodile safety comes up in Parliament, the major parties lock arms and vote against the people of the North.”

“There is no difference anymore, not when you look at how they vote.”

“The KAP forced these changes and the LNP should be ashamed they tried to stop them.”