A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
MACDONALD: CROCODILE SHOULD BE DUMPED AT HERVEY BAY
13 November, 2008
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Opposition Spokesman for Northern Australia, Senator Ian Macdonald, has condemned the Bligh Labor Government and Minister Andrew McNamara for allowing a crocodile which had killed a Townsville man to be re-released in Lakefield National Park in Far North Queensland.
“I understand that in Mr McNamara’s electorate of Hervey Bay, there are some very popular tourist resorts. Perhaps this killer crocodile could be re-located to River Heads and swim between the mainland and Kingfisher Bay Resort at Fraser Island,” Senator Macdonald said.
“I’m sure locals there would be just as impressed as are the people of the North about what has happened here.”
“One of the most extraordinary things about this incident is that it took a brave whisteblower from Queensland Parks and Wildlife to expose the ‘culture of secrecy, deceit and intimidation’ in the agency that is overseen by Mr McNamara as Sustainability Minister.”
“The whistleblower is also alleging that files relating to the case were shredded following a Freedom of Information request. If this is true, Mr McNamara should be abandoned to the crocodiles and the CMC should investigate the allegation,” Senator Macdonald said.
“Mr McNamara has consistently bungled crocodile management in North Queensland, and I think he owes it to North Queensland to resign and allow someone who knows what they are doing to take over the job,” Senator Macdonald said.
“Anna Bligh and her Ministers need to understand that people’s lives are more important than one or two crocodiles – and Greens preferences in the leafy suburbs of the capital city.