COMMON SENSE DEMANDS ACTION

FIVE crocodile attacks in just one weekend should be the catalyst to legalise hunting of the reptiles.

What more evidence do animal liberationists and clueless southern politicians need to drop their opposition to making the Far North safer for human beings and pets?

A spearfisherman was killed in the Russell River and young Lee de Paauw was lucky to survive an attack at the Innisfail Wharf, right in the middle of town.

Three dogs were attacked north of Cairns just on Friday alone, one fatally. Another was saved by his brave owner who committed the sin of simply taking his best mate for a night- time walk along Four Mile Beach.

Critics have savaged Mr de Paauw for needlessly putting himself in harm’s way, but consider this: It appears he was in the water for about a minute, maybe less.

So if some kid fishing off the wharf accidentally fell in and had to swim to shore, why should that kid or anyone be in mortal danger of being eaten?

Remember, this isn’t some remote mangrove- lined backwater, this is the middle of a bustling town and the wharf is a hive of human activity.

There’s a playground and skatepark on the Johnstone River foreshore, and fishermen unload their catches there.

Not too long ago, waterskiers and rowers revelled in nature’s playground right in the middle of town.

Downstream, The Coconuts used to be a favourite family swimming and fishing destination.

The same goes for Liverpool Creek, 20km south of town, once packed with families picnicking while the kids exhausted themselves on a rope swing into the pristine water.

Now these areas are no- go zones because of crocs, and that stinks.

Crocs have always been around but people hardly ever saw them until the past few years, and especially not near town. Everyone knew they were there and they were cautious, but the crocs were seemingly scared of humans and didn’t come near.

Now croc sightings in suburbia are common, and the animals show disturbing bravery around people.

But when anyone suggests that doing something to protect humans might be a good idea, the rabid animal lib campaigners launch.

Here’s an excerpt of an example I copped recently ( with spelling mistakes corrected): “You sir, are one of the biggest dropkicks to ever open your gob.

“Best you lock yourself up in your air- conditioned apartment and shut up bro, you are seriously embarrassing yourself.”

Oops! Sorry for wanting people not to suffer violent deaths.

During a debate on croc culling, I asked an animal libber: “If there was a baby and a dog in a burning house and you can only save one, which would you save?”

Her answer: “How well do I know the dog and the baby?”

This is the sort of mentality we’re dealing with from the extreme and warped enviro warriors.

My standard response is that why don’t these people protest against the annual large- scale fogging of mosquitoes? What about the dragnetting that kills so many deadly jellyfish?

If you have a taipan in your yard, do you just leave it there because you’re in its territory, or do you deliver a shovel to the back of its head or call a snake catcher?

All these actions are to stop animals killing people, and no one says boo, but when we start discussing ways to stop crocodiles from grabbing little Johnny throwing a castnet at the beach, the knives come out.

Why live in a natural paradise if we can’t have a swim in a creek or even take the dog for a walk on the beach?

We have a right to exist here and a right to protect ourselves as we utilise the natural bounty at our doorstep.

No one is advocating wiping out crocs, but allowing people to hunt them commercially, allowing eggs to be harvested from the wild and removing all crocs over 2m in inhabited areas isn’t beyond rational thought.

There’s nearly all of Cape York where crocs can thrive and not come into regular contact with humans.

On the political scene, the ALP is pandering ( again) to enviro groups, the LNP want a much stronger attitude to crocs, and One Nation and Katter’s Australian Party want a cull.

While any plan needs proper diligence, any party that puts people first is going to win a lot of votes in the northern part of the state.