Last Update: Thursday, October 6, 2005. 4:02pm (AEST)

Govt criticised over croc safari decision

A Territory tourist operator who was hoping to run crocodile safaris says she is dismayed the hunts will not be allowed to go ahead.

Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell today rejected a Territory Government proposal to allow trophy hunters to shoot 25 crocodiles each year.

The minister said too many older animals could be shot, potentially increasing the number of young rogue crocodiles.

But Marlee Ranacher from Bullo River Station about 350 kilometres south-west of Darwin, says that is simply not true.

"Has Mr Campbell come up and had a look? I don't think he has," she said.

"And it is a statement of ignorance to say that especially when you haven't checked and you haven't been up here and you haven't listened to all the people who do live and work up here."

Ms Ranacher, who was hoping to run crocodile safaris, says her dismay is more than just self interest.

"That hunter will buy a Qantas ticket he will buy tickets to go down to Sydney," she said.

"He will hire a charter plane to fly out here. A taxidermist will get a job.

"He will in all probability bring friends and or family who will go to Sydney and or Melbourne. The flow-on effect is huge."

The CLP's Member for Solomon Dave Tollner and Senator Nigel Scullion have already attacked the Environment Minister for ignoring the views of Territorians.

Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch is a former crocodile catcher and farmer.

He says the decision is based on emotion and wrong information.

"If he came out and said I'm just fundamentally opposed to killing any creatures for profit then okay I could accept that, but I mean that's not the case, I'll certainly be raising it with him and I would expect the Northern Territory Government would probably put in an appeal," he said.

Leading Territory crocodile expert Graeme Webb says the Federal Government's reasoning is deeply flawed.

Professor Webb says the minister does not realise older crocs do not teach young ones, they eat them.

"The other issue of course is that we, Australia shouldn't be seen as hunters and shouldn't be seen as hunting iconic animals and yet we cull six million kangaroos each year," he said.

The Northern Land Council also says the Federal Government has got it wrong in rejecting the safari hunting of saltwater crocodiles.

The NLC's Norman Fry says anyone can see there are too many crocodiles in the Territory.

"Generations now today, young people today can't do the kinds of things that I was able to do as a kid and that is swim in billabongs and creeks with relative safety," he said.