Bob Katter slams ‘marijuana-head, lilypad lefties’ after NQ crocodile attack

North Queensland federal MP Bob Katter – an outspoken advocate for crocodile population management – has slammed who he describes as “lilypad lefties” following an attack in North Queensland.

A man in his forties was bitten by a croc this afternoon at the popular Lake Placid recreation area on the outskirts of Cairns.

He suffered minor injuries to his hand, face and upper body, and was taken to the Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic Paul Sweeney told media the 44-year-old victim had been swim training when the croc initially attacked him head-first.

“There’s definite evidence of puncture wounds through his scalp to the right side of his head from either the upper or lower jaw and there were additional puncture wounds to the left angle of the jaw, the cheekbone corresponding to a bite that the animal has bitten the top of his head with the jaws either side,” Mr Sweeney said.

“He put his hands into the jaws to prise them off his head and when he did so and let go the jaw snapped shut and onto his left forefinger which wasn’t broken or severed thankfully.”

Soon after the attack Mr Katter, who’s long advocated for crocodile culling in North Queensland and once called for crocodile shooting safaris to be established, released a statement slamming conservationists.

The statement said Mr Katter was “sick” of dealing with “half-witted, Lilypad Lefties, with stars in their eyes and marijuana in their head and lungs,” who were against croc culling.

He said he used to take his family to Lake Placid in the late 1970s.

“All of the kids were swimming there every day, it was a really fun afternoon,” Mr Katter said. 

“There were rowboats, water bikes and it was a great place to have a picnic.

“Now, no-one would want to swim in Lake Placid. The danger is too great, and here is a classic example with this 44-year-old man being attacked today.”

Mr Katter said he strongly disagreed with the Queensland Government’s approach to crocodile management.

“They tell us it’s the crocodiles’ territory,” he said.

“Well, Lake Placid has never belonged to the crocodiles. If they knew anything about the ecological history of Australia, they would know the First Australians got a significant part of their diet from crocodile meat and eggs. Lake Placid was never a crocodile habitat.

“I have spent my life in the bush. For near enough to a decade, I spent two months a year in the North Queensland scrub with the army and I never saw a crocodile in the wild. Now, in one out of every five river inspections I see crocodiles.

“You’d have to have no heart, no soul and no brain to say that we can’t remove crocodiles. You’d prefer little children and human beings get torn to pieces.

“How many missing persons in Nth Qld could possibly have been because of crocodiles?”

*Below is an instagram post from Bob Katter in October 2020