2025
A Bill
for
An Act to establish the Queensland Crocodile Authority and for
related matters
Page 4
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 1]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 1 Preliminary
The Parliament of Queensland enacts—
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Crocodile Control and
Conservation Act 2025.
2 Commencement
This Act commences 4 months after the day of assent.
3 Definitions
The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in
this Act.
4 Inconsistency with other Acts
If there is an inconsistency between this Act and another Act,
this Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
Part 2 Queensland Crocodile
Authority
5 Establishment and control of Queensland Crocodile
Authority
(1) The Queensland Crocodile Authority is established.
(2) The authority consists of the director and staff of the authority.
(3) The director is to control the authority.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Page 5
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 6]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 3 Director of Queensland Crocodile Authority
6 Location of authority
(1) The business premises of the authority must be located in
Cairns.
(2) The director and staff of the authority must reside in Cairns.
7 Functions of authority
The functions of the authority are—
(a) to act, as necessary, to assist the director to carry out the
director’s functions; and
(b) to perform another function conferred on the authority
under this Act or another Act; and
(c) to perform functions incidental to a function mentioned
in paragraph (a) or (b).
8 Staff
The staff of the authority are employed under the Public
Sector Act 2022.
Part 3 Director of Queensland
Crocodile Authority
9 Appointment of director
(1) The authority must have a director.
(2) The director is appointed by resolution of the Legislative
Assembly on the recommendation of the Minister.
(3) However, the Minister must not recommend a person for
appointment as director unless the Minister is satisfied the
person—
(a) has qualifications or experience relevant to the
appointment; and
(b) is of good character; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Page 6
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 10]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 3 Director of Queensland Crocodile Authority
(c) resides in Cairns.
(4) The director is appointed under this Act, and not under the
Public Sector Act 2022.
(5) The director must operate primarily from the business
premises of the authority.
10 Functions of director
(1) The director has the following functions—
(a) to take measures to minimise injuries and deaths caused
by crocodiles in the State;
(b) to authorise persons, in any part of the State, to
operate—
(i) a crocodile farm; or
(ii) a crocodile sanctuary;
(c) to decide the number of crocodile eggs that may be
harvested each year in any part of the State;
(d) to authorise persons to harvest crocodile eggs in any
part of the State;
(e) to decide the number of crocodiles that may be culled
each year in any part of the State;
(f) to authorise persons to carry out the culling of
crocodiles in any part of the State;
(g) to authorise persons to, for the prompt management of
crocodiles, kill or relocate crocodiles in any part of the
State;
Example—
A person may be authorised to relocate a crocodile from a
populated waterway to a crocodile sanctuary.
(h) for Aboriginal land or Torres Strait Islander land—to
authorise the owner of the land to—
(i) kill crocodiles on the land; or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Page 7
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 10]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 3 Director of Queensland Crocodile Authority
(ii) allow other persons to kill crocodiles on the land,
for payment of a fee or free of charge; or
(iii) relocate crocodiles on the land to a crocodile
sanctuary or crocodile farm; or
(iv) harvest crocodile eggs on the land; or
(v) otherwise manage crocodiles on the land;
Note—
See section 20 in relation to consultation about Aboriginal
tradition or Island custom.
(i) for State leasehold land or other land that is not State
land—to authorise a person to, with the consent of the
owner of the land, enter the land to—
(i) kill crocodiles on the land; or
(ii) relocate crocodiles on the land to a crocodile
sanctuary or crocodile farm; or
(iii) harvest crocodile eggs on the land;
(j) to authorise persons to display, interact with, keep, or
use crocodiles or crocodile eggs in any part of the State;
(k) if requested by the owner of land, to authorise a person
to remove a crocodile from the land;
(l) to ensure the carcasses of all crocodiles killed under an
authorisation granted by the director are dealt with so
that, as far as practicable, no part of a carcass is wasted;
(m) to refer the suspected commission of offences relating to
crocodiles or crocodile eggs to the police service;
(n) to coordinate research into, and the routine surveying
of—
(i) crocodile numbers and distribution in the State;
and
(ii) crocodile egg numbers and distribution in the
State;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Page 8
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 10]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 3 Director of Queensland Crocodile Authority
(o) to promote the farming of crocodiles and the harvesting
of crocodile eggs in the State;
(p) to investigate viability of the use of State land to farm
crocodiles or as crocodile sanctuaries;
(q) to declare and manage crocodile sanctuaries and
populated waterways;
(r) to make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly
about crocodile management in the State;
(s) to manage the authority’s affairs—
(i) under this Act and other relevant laws; and
(ii) having regard to the advisory committee’s advice
or recommendations;
(t) to otherwise manage the day-to-day operations of the
authority.
(2) The director must not, when carrying out a function
mentioned in subsection (1), do anything the director
reasonably believes will cause, or is likely to cause, the
population size of crocodiles to decline to such an extent that
crocodiles are in danger of extinction.
(3) In this section—
buy includes—
(a) agree or offer to buy; and
(b) receive or accept under an agreement; and
(c) agree to receive or accept under an agreement; and
(d) offer or attempt to receive or accept under an agreement;
and
(e) cause or permit to be received or accepted under an
agreement; and
(f) acquire by exchange; and
(g) accept on hire or lease.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Page 9
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 11]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 3 Director of Queensland Crocodile Authority
display, in relation to a crocodile or a crocodile egg, includes
demonstrate the crocodile or egg.
interact, with a crocodile, includes—
(a) approach, pursue or lure a crocodile for the purpose of
interacting with or feeding the crocodile; and
(b) gain a benefit from interacting with or feeding the
crocodile; and
(c) attempt to do an act mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).
keep, in relation to a crocodile or a crocodile egg, includes
have in possession, or under control, in any place (whether for
the use or benefit of the person in relation to whom the term is
used or another person), even though another person has the
actual possession or custody of the crocodile or crocodile egg.
sell includes—
(a) auction, exchange or supply; and
(b) keep, expose, supply or receive for sale; and
(c) send or deliver for sale; and
(d) dispose of by hire or lease; and
(e) cause or permit the doing of an act mentioned in
paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d); and
(f) offer or attempt to do an act mentioned in paragraph (a),
(b), (c) or (d); and
(g) offer or attempt to sell; and
(h) cause or permit to be sold.
use, in relation to a crocodile or a crocodile egg, includes buy,
sell, give away, process, move or gain any benefit from the
crocodile or egg.
11 Powers of director
(1) The director has the powers given under this Act or another
Act.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Page 10
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 12]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 3 Director of Queensland Crocodile Authority
(2) Also, the director may do all things necessary or convenient to
be done to perform the director’s functions.
12 Delegation
The director may delegate the director’s powers under this or
another Act to an appropriately qualified member of the
authority’s staff.
13 Terms and ending of appointment
(1) For matters not provided for under this Act, a person is
appointed as director on the terms of appointment decided by
the Minister.
(2) Except as decided by the Minister, the person is not entitled to
receive any payment, interest in property or other valuable
consideration or benefit—
(a) by way of remuneration as director; or
(b) in connection with retirement as director or any other
ending of the appointment.
(3) The Minister may terminate the appointment of the director if
the director—
(a) becomes mentally or physically incapable of
satisfactorily performing the functions of director; or
(b) is convicted of an indictable offence (whether in
Queensland or elsewhere); or
(c) is guilty of misconduct of a kind that would warrant
dismissal from the public service.
(4) Subsection (3) does not otherwise limit the Acts Interpretation
Act 1954, section 25.
(5) In this section—
indictable offence includes an indictable offence dealt with
summarily, whether or not the Criminal Code, section 659
applies in relation to the indictable offence.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Page 11
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 14]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 4 Advisory Committee
Part 4 Advisory Committee
14 Establishment and membership
(1) The director must establish an advisory committee to give
advice and make recommendations to the director about the
following—
(a) the performance of the director’s functions and the
exercise of the director’s powers;
(b) the strategies and the operational and administrative
policies to be followed by the director and the authority;
(c) the goals and objectives of the director and the authority.
(2) The advisory committee is to consist of at least 7 persons
appointed by the Minister.
(3) The persons appointed under subsection (2) must include at
least—
(a) 1 member who—
(i) is an Aboriginal person, or a Torres Strait Islander
person; and
(ii) has experience with crocodiles; and
(b) 1 member who has worked in the crocodile farming
industry; and
(c) 1 member who—
(i) resides in the State in, or north of, Mackay; and
(ii) has experience in wildlife conservation; and
(d) 1 member who—
(i) resides in the State in, or north of, Mackay; and
(ii) is involved in 1 or more community organisations
with an interest in recreational activities associated
with waterways.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Page 12
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 15]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 5 Administration
Examples of recreational activities associated with
waterways—
fishing, kayaking, powerboating, sailing
(4) The remaining members must be persons who have
appropriate experience or qualifications to contribute to the
management of crocodiles in the State.
(5) The Minister must appoint 1 of the members of the advisory
committee as chairperson.
(6) Subsections (7) and (8) apply in relation to a person’s
appointment as a member of the advisory committee or the
chairperson.
(7) For matters not provided for under this Act, the person holds
office on the terms of appointment decided by the Minister.
(8) Except as decided by the Minister, the person is not entitled to
receive any payment, interest in property or other valuable
consideration or benefit—
(a) by way of remuneration as holder of the office; or
(b) in connection with retirement from the office or any
other ending of the office.
15 Conduct of business
The advisory committee may conduct its business, including
its meetings, in the way the advisory committee considers
appropriate.
Part 5 Administration
16 Annual report
(1) The director must, not later than 4 months after the end of
each financial year, prepare and give to the Minister a report
about the authority’s operations during the year.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Page 13
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 16]
Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025
Part 5 Administration
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the annual report must
include the following matters—
(a) an outline of the authority’s goals and objectives;
(b) an outline of the authority’s financial performance and
financial position;
(c) the number of licences, permits and other authorities
issued by the director during the year, organised by type
and location;
(d) particulars of each crocodile lawfully killed in the State
during the year of which the authority is aware,
including how the crocodile was killed and how the
carcass was dealt with;
(e) the number and location of crocodile eggs harvested in
the State during the year;
(f) the number and location of crocodile eggs authorised to
be harvested in the State at the time of the report;
(g) the number and location of each crocodile sanctuary or
populated waterway declared during the year;
(h) particulars of each crocodile in the State that was
relocated during the year, including—
(i) where the crocodile was relocated from; and
(ii) where the crocodile was relocated to; and
(iii) the reason for the relocation;
(i) particulars of each crocodile attack on a person in the
State during the year of which the authority is aware;
(j) particulars of any injuries incurred by persons lawfully
dealing with crocodiles in the State during the year of
which the authority is aware;
(k) a list of persons authorised to operate a crocodile farm
or crocodile sanctuary;
(l) other particulars of the authority’s principal activities
for the year;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32