LNP snap at croc policy
Government defends long response times
THE Palaszczuk Government has been forced to defend the three-month period its rangers take to catch “problem” crocodiles in Queensland’s waterways.
The Environment Minister and her Director-General were grilled by the State Opposition in Budget Estimates yesterday over the government’s crocodile management program.
Ninety-eight per cent of problem crocodile declarations last financial year were resolved within three months, according to the 2018-19 budget papers.
A problem crocodile is a croc determined to pose an unacceptable risk to the public, and therefore needs to be removed from the wild.
The LNP’s Jason Costigan, who is the Member for Whitsunday, questioned how a removal time of three months met community expectations of protection against the dangerous reptiles.
The Department of Environment and Science’s director-general, Jamie Merrick, said the government was “highly responsive” to managing crocs.
“So far this year, we’ve had 438 estuarine crocodile sightings that have been received,” he said.
“All of those have been assessed by the department, and 28 crocodiles have been removed.
“We seek to act as quickly as possible, recognising the public safety concerns of people across Queensland.
“So there’s a highly responsive team. There’s been extra investment of 12 dedicated rangers who undertake this activity on behalf of the department.”
The Opposition’s environment spokesman, David Crisafulli, asked Minister Leeanne Enoch whether three months was an acceptable service standard for croc management.
The Minister replied that her department had an “outstanding record” when it came to investigating every croc sighting reported to it.
“That response is immediate, in terms of where you locate – and to verify those sightings,” she said.
“Every sighting is investigated, and of course the actions are taken from there, in terms of which zone (the crocs) may be in, and what actions would be required.”