Call To Reconsider Crocodile Hunting Ban

The Federal Minister for the Environment, Senator Ian Campbell, should reconsider his decision not to allow controlled crocodile hunting in the Northern Territory. On the 6th of October 2005 the Federal Minister banned the culling of crocodiles in the NT largely on the advice of Steve Irwin, a Queensland Based Crocodile theme park operator.

"The numbers of crocodiles in our waters have been increasing since bans on hunting were introduced in the early 1970's,” Opposition Leader Jodeen Carney said today.

"We are seeing more crocodiles than ever being removed from our harbour and with 5 deaths being recorded in 4 years to crocodiles, clearly there is no entrenched fear of people. The recent and tragic loss of an 8 year old girl is one of the latest in that list.

"There are two ways in which the ban could be lifted. Firstly, professional harvesting of the population to collect skins and secondly, safari hunting which would allow for a different form of employment to occur in remote Aboriginal Communities.

"The Federal Government was on the verge of approving a plan in which 600 were going to be allowed to be taken from the wild and 25 were going to be allowed to be taken for safari purposes.

"After the intervention of Mr Irwin, Senator Campbell reversed his position. I now call on the Federal Government to review that decision and allow for the re-introduction of crocodile harvesting from the wild in a controlled fashion.

"If targeted in an appropriate way most of the animals can be taken from around communities and popular tourist spots so as to protect the people who visit the Territory.”

2006-07-11