‘Do a crocodile knock’

One Nation claims vast majority of people back a cull

Growing crocodile numbers pose a “greater risk to the community”, Senator Pauline Hanson said as she called for a cull of the predators.

An “overwhelming” number of central and north Queenslanders, four out of five people, support the idea of a cull, according to a survey undertaken by One Nation.

It follows a fatal croc attack which claimed the life of Laura publican Kevin Darmody in Cape York on the weekend.

Senator Hanson said while the species was protected, their numbers were on the rise and the animals were being found far away from their usual habitats.

“Ultimately the first responsibility of any government is to keep the community safe and every other consideration is secondary to this priority,” Senator Hanson said.

“If this means we need to reduce crocodile numbers with a cull, then so be it”

Polling undertaken by One Nation on Tuesday found 82.9 per cent of people surveyed in an SMS poll in the electorate of Mirani backed a cull, as well as 2700 people surveyed in a telephone poll in the electorate of Hinchinbrook.

Respondents were asked if they supported “recent community calls for a crocodile cull in your area”.

State MP Robbie Katter, as well as the family of Mr Darmody, have also called for a controlled cull.

Senator Hanson said saltwater crocodiles had been a protected species in Queensland since they were listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act (1992).

“Since then their numbers have obviously increased, and this could pose a greater risk to the Queensland community,” she said.

“There is clearly strong community support backing a reduction of crocodile numbers in Queensland.”

Crocodiles had almost been hunted to extinction in Queensland by the 1970s.

State government data showed there had been 115 sightings in the past 30 days alone and 452 since January 1.

A Department of Environment spokesman earlier this week said an independent committee of experts had endorsed Queensland as having a world-leading crocodile management program that was highly effective in reducing the risks to public safety, while conserving populations in the wild.

The state government has allocated $20m to manage its estuarine crocodile population since 2015.