C4 has proudly signed on to support a joint submission led by the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) in strong opposition to the proposed Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025, introduced by Shane Knuth MP.
This Bill, reintroduced in Parliament this February, seeks to allow for the culling of crocodiles, legalise trophy hunting, and permit widespread crocodile egg harvesting – all under the guise of improving public safety. C4, alongside many of our conservation colleagues across the state, believes this Bill poses a direct threat to both biodiversity and public understanding of crocodile safety in Far North Queensland.
A Bill based on fear, not science
CAFNEC’s submission makes clear that the proposed legislation lacks scientific foundation. It disregards key research findings, including those from the Queensland Department of Environment itself, which highlight that crocodile attacks are overwhelmingly linked to unsafe human behaviour – not crocodile abundance.
Contrary to the Bill’s proposals, the removal of crocodiles doesn’t prevent future attacks. In fact, as the Department’s own research shows, new crocodiles inevitably move in to fill vacated territory, making culling an ineffective and dangerous strategy.
Undermining conservation and cultural respect
The estuarine crocodile is listed as a vulnerable species under both Queensland and Commonwealth legislation. Proposals to remove crocodiles from “populated waterways” and harvest eggs show a disregard for the need to protect this threatened species and fail to account for their slow reproductive rates and localised populations.
What’s more, the Bill neglects the deep cultural and spiritual importance of crocodiles to many First Nations peoples. It contains no meaningful consultation process with Traditional Owners – a failure that is out of step with Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019.
Education, not eradication
The submission argues for strengthening the Be Crocwise program – a community education initiative proven to reduce human-crocodile conflict – instead of pursuing lethal control measures. Research consistently shows that human safety is best improved through behaviour change and awareness, not the false security offered by culling.
C4 action
As an organisation dedicated to conservation and ecological integrity, C4 stands firmly with CAFNEC and other leading environmental groups in calling for this Bill to be rejected in its entirety.
We urge members and the wider Mission Beach community to stay informed, stay Crocwise, and support science-based policies that protect both people and wildlife.