a day ago
War of words erupts between Bob Katter and Terri Irwin as they clash over controversial croc culling bill
Veteran MP Bob Katter has launched an attack on Dr Terri Irwin after she criticised his party's bill to cull crocodile populations in Queensland.
The Irwin matriarch was among 175 submissions made to the state government on the proposed legislation and described it as 'more dangerous than previous efforts'.
'It is such a lazy and sloppy attempt to recycle old draft legislation,' she said on behalf of Australia Zoo.
She noted the bill referenced the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection which has not been referred to as that since 2017.
'The Introductory Speech and Explanatory Notes is very selective in its use of statistics and contains many inaccuracies and "fake news",' Dr Irwin continued.
'However, it is the new, poorly-designed parts of the Bill which make this proposed legislation even more dangerous than previous efforts.'
Katter's Australian Party (KAP) introduced the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 in February to 'eliminate crocodiles which pose a threat to human life' while protecting them from going extinct.
In response to Dr Irwin's 21-page submission, the party founder took to his Facebook page on Friday to attack her credentials.
'A lady, Mrs Irwin. She said that I'm a dangerous person, and it's the only time I've ever agreed with her in my life,' Katter said to the camera.
'She knows all about crocodiles. Well, that's rather fascinating for me because she lives in Brisbane, and I work with the top crocodile handlers in the world.
'Versace and the other big fashion houses have huge crocodile farms here.
'How would you know all about crocodiles if you live in Brisbane? Oh that's right, she's got them all locked up in a cage in Brisbane.'
KAP MP for Hill Shane Knuth, who submitted the bill, joined the pile-on.
'The Irwin's built a multimillion dollar business off the back of crocodiles,' he wrote on Facebook.
'And now they're lecturing North Queenslanders on how to enjoy our recreational waterways while they're infested with crocs - and getting worse.
'Spare us the patronising 'Crocwise' slogans. We don't need a zoo telling us how to survive in our own backyard.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Irwin and Australia Zoo for comment.
Australia Zoo is not the only organisation to oppose the proposed legislation, with PETA Australia raising two concerns in its own submission.
'We highlight crocodiles' sentience and individuality and refute that they are 'pest' animals who must be eradicated so humans can occupy their natural habitats,' it said.
The group secondly opposed the Bill's proposed 'payment from a quota of 'High-End Clients' who wish to live harvest the crocodile'.
It suggested the detail 'hints at allowing safari-style hunting of crocodiles'.
Hartley's Creek Crocodile Farming Company also opposed the bill, suggesting that it would 'destroy the export industry'.
A public hearing and briefing on the proposed legislation is due to be held in Brisbane on June 11.
