Sydney
Queensland has introduced new laws to address crocodile attacks, including fines for those who unintentionally feed or knowingly stay near crocodiles. Announced on Tuesday by Leanne Linard, Queensland’s Minister for the Environment, the measures aim to enhance public safety.
Under the new regulations, individuals who accidentally feed crocodiles by discarding food in places like boat ramps or campsites face fines up to $4,372.2. Those who knowingly remain close to a crocodile on land can be fined up to $10,930.5. The fine for intentionally disturbing or feeding crocodiles has been increased from $4,372.2 to $17,729.3, and the penalty for interfering with a crocodile trap has also been raised to $17,729.3.
Conservation officers are now empowered to order people to move away from crocodiles to prevent dangerous interactions. Linard emphasized that these changes are crucial for improving safety in crocodile-inhabited areas, noting that interactions with crocodiles increase public safety risks.
Australia has seen three fatal crocodile attacks in 2024, all in the northern regions. In August, Dr. David Hogbin was killed by a crocodile near Cooktown in far north Queensland. In the Northern Territory, a 16-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were killed in separate incidents earlier this year.
A 2019 monitoring program estimated Queensland’s crocodile population at between 20,000 and 30,000, predominantly in the far north. Federal Senator Bob Katter has advocated for a cull of crocodiles to prevent such attacks.
