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Sky News AU
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Wild quarrel over Queensland croc culling bill emerges as Bob Irwin Snr unleashes on maverick politician Bob Katter
A fierce debate over a controversial Queensland crocodile culling bill is heating up, with Bob Irwin Snr not holding back about his feelings towards federal politician Bob Katter. The Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 introduced to Queensland's parliament by Katter's Australian Party (KAP) in February would legalise the culling of crocodiles in the state. Debate over the proposed legislation has now boiled over, with Mr Katter and KAP now publicly trading jabs with the Irwin family following a lengthy submission on the bill by Australia Zoo. The father of Australian conservationist icon Steve Irwin has told The Courier Mail he thinks Mr Katter is 'a d***head', telling the masthead to 'put it on record'. '....and you can actually tell him who said it as well,' Mr Irwin said on Wednesday. 'He's not listening to the people that know, he has no idea of how the environment works, and that's his problem.' The heated comments from the 86-year-old came after he appeared at Queensland's parliament for a hearing regarding crocodile management, according to the masthead. The Australia Zoo founder's daughter-in-law Terri Irwin has spoken out about the culling proposal, calling the bill "lazy and sloppy" in a submission on the bill. She claimed the legislation would increase the likelihood of crocodile attacks on people, and slammed the proposal as being an attempt to 'recycle old draft legislation'. Mr Katter last week hit back at Ms Irwin for her criticism of his party's bill, calling out Australia Zoo for keeping the reptiles in captivity. 'She knows all about it, well I'm a bit fascinated by that. How would you know about crocodiles if you live in Brisbane?,' the federal member for Kennedy said in a video posted on social media. 'Oh that's right, she's got them all locked up in a cage in Brisbane, I'd forgotten about that.' The maverick politician's son and KAP leader Robbie Katter took to social media on Wednesday to address Ms Irwin over the remarks detailed in the submission. 'You make money out of crocodiles by keeping them in cages. I don't know what qualifies you to give advice on the way we live up north,' the party leader said in a Facebook post. Earlier on Wednesday, a cartoon was posted on the KAP Facebook page that appeared to show Ms Irwin, the ghost of Steve Irwin, and a crocodile angrily staring at a KAP member holding a gun with 'Cull Plan' written on it.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Steve Irwin's father delivers brutal message to Bob Katter as feud over crocodile cull boils over: 'He's not listening'
The father of Steve Irwin has joined his estranged family to slam Bob Katter and his calls to cull crocodiles. Bob Irwin Senior came out swinging on Wednesday to label the outspoken MP a 'd***head'. Katter's Australian Party (KAP) introduced the Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill 2025 in February to the Queensland Government. The aim of the proposed law is to 'eliminate crocodiles which pose a threat to human life' while protecting them from going extinct. The move has prompted outrage from the Irwin family with Bob the latest member to publicly share his opposition to it. 'He's not listening to the people that know. He has no idea of how the environment works and that's his problem,' the Australia Zoo founder told The Courier Mail. Bob had spoken at state parliament earlier in the day against the legislation. 'Steve and I have learnt from the word go that if you want to be successful with anything you want to do with crocodiles, you've got to get inside their head figuratively,' he said. 'So we spent a lot of time doing nothing else but observing what crocodiles do.' Bob added there have been previous situations where someone calls for the culling of crocodiles, but said people did not listen to researchers and scientists. Katter's son and KAP leader Robbie defended the bill while taking aim at the Irwin family. He claimed they were 'entertainers' with little understanding of regional communities' fears. He also told state parliament his father's knowledge came from speaking to his constituents in north Queensland. Although estranged from his son's wife and children, Bob's statements echoed that of Terri, who submitted a letter to the government criticising the proposed law. His daughter-in-law described the bill as 'more dangerous than previous efforts' to argue in favour of culling crocodile populations. 'It is such a lazy and sloppy attempt to recycle old draft legislation,' Terri said. In issuing her comments, Terri came under fire from Katter on Friday. 'How would you know all about crocodiles if you live in Brisbane?' he said in a video published to Facebook. '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 social media. '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.' The Irwin family feud began 13 years ago when Bob quit Australia Zoo because he was concerned the wildlife park he'd founded in 1970 was becoming a 'circus'. Various reports from the time of Bob's exit claim he was worried the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction was becoming 'too commercial - and even feared a then nine-year-old Bindi was being pushed into child stardom. When Bob left the zoo for good in 2008 - two years after the death of his famous son - Terri was said to be planning a five-year expansion 'to make it Australia's peak tourist destination with a Disneyland feel'.
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KAP flags lower annual earnings ahead amid challenging trading conditions
Unitrans completed a major organisational redesign in November 2024 Image: File KAP, the group with industrial, chemical and logistics divisions, on Tuesday warned that it expects lower earnings for 2025 amid challenging trading conditions. Earnings per share (eps) is expected to decrease by more than 30% for 2025, which is a decrease of at least 13.1 cents per share from 43.8 cents the prior comparative period. Headline earnings per share (heps) is expected to decrease by more than 30% for 2025, which is a decrease of at least 13.6 cents per share, when compared to the heps of 45.3 cents for the year ended June 30, 2024. In an update guidance on the company's operational performance for 11 months of the 2025 financial year up to May 31, 2025, compared with the prior comparative period, KAP said trading conditions have remained challenging, with sentiment further dampened by the uncertainty created by the delay in the approval of the national budget, the resultant instability of the Government of National Unity and the potential negative effects of the US's tariff war. Additionally, April was a particularly weak month due to the limited trading days. In this context, the group delivered a modest growth in revenue, a reduction in Ebitda, a decline in operating profit and meaningfully lower earnings during the period. KAP said it continues to make progress with the execution of its strategy, to realise value from the major capital projects; improve the financial performance of underperforming businesses, mostly Unitrans; and the reduction of net debt. Divisional performance: PG Bison successfully started and ramped up its new R2 billion MDF (Medium-density fiberboard) line in Mkhondo in the first half of 2025. Revenue was higher due to a 90% increase in MDF domestic and export sales volumes, primarily attributable to the higher MDF production. Particleboard sales volumes were stable. Operating profit declined as the depreciation and running costs of the new MDF line were absorbed during the period, with utilisation not yet optimal due to the ramp-up process. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Safripol delivered an increase in revenue and operating profit, largely due to higher production and sales volumes. Unitrans completed a major organisational redesign in November 2024, which formed part of a deep restructuring focused on the cessation of low-margin, low-return activities, improved asset utilisation and reduced costs. Feltex encountered challenging trading conditions, mainly because of lower vehicle production, with two major OEM customers being meaningfully lower due to temporary operational constraints at their plants. Sleep Group increased revenue and operating profit, primarily due to growth in sales of bedding units, despite a subdued bedding and furniture market. Optix delivered lower revenue and operating profit, with suboptimal conversion of the sales pipeline. Balance sheet KAP said it has completed a major investment cycle, with all projects commissioned and operational. "The only remaining major capital commitment relates to improving the average fleet age of Unitrans' vehicles. This catch- up capital expenditure will be phased over three to five years and we therefore do not expect it to have a major impact in any single year," it said. "We invested in future growth, of which PG Bison's new MDF line is the largest and most recent investment. The line resulted in a 33% increase in the division's total production capacity and offers compelling growth opportunities for the group, it said. KAP said it was making good progress in addressing areas of underperformance, the most material of which relates to Unitrans, where an operating profit of R700 million is targeted over the medium term. Reducing net debt is also a priority.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fuming families battle against new McDonald's drive-thru plan 'targeting children'
Outraged parents and councillors are fighting plans for a 24/7 McDonald's drive-thru in Hove. A Hove Against McDonald's protest group is battling against the proposed site in Old Shoreham Road, Hove. Michelle Vogel, who lives just behind the proposed site, has been leading the campaign against the plans, saying that the fast-food company is 'targeting our children'. She told The Argus: 'The main reason we are all opposed is the proximity to all of our schools and all of our young people. The city already has a massive obesity problem. 'You've got Hove Park, Blatchington Mill, Goldstone and West Hove all less than 800 metres away. 'Holmes Avenue here is where there's a school run, so they all come up there. McDonald's know exactly what they're doing and who they're targeting. 'It's going to bring all of the school children down here to the main road, and they're all going to be littering and loitering here.' Residential houses can be seen in the back of the proposed site (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus)The fast-food giant applied for a freestanding 24/7 drive-thru restaurant, a car park and the demolition of the existing buildings. The site was originally a Suzuki car dealership in 2004, which was then replaced by Kent Auto Panels (KAP). In a Brighton and Hove City Council Public Health response to the proposed development of the drive-thru, which recommended to reject the plans, it was revealed that the city has the highest number of fast-food outlets per head in the entire South East at 149 per 100,000 population. The report also highlighted that the proposed site is adjacent to the 'most deprived areas' within the city, with people in those areas having 'higher levels of obesity statistically'. It also stated that the proposed McDonald's would be within 800m of four large schools in the area, mentioned by Michelle, with other schools just outside the zone who could be 'influenced' to purchase from the establishment. Residents have also shared concerns about the increased traffic and the impact this will have on parking and the local area. A Hove Against McDonald's protest is set to take place on June 17 at 5.30pm outside the proposed site in Old Shoreham Road, Hove. Michelle added: 'It's not just the traffic of people coming into the drive-thru, it's going to be the Uber drivers. You can see how close people's houses are, the kind of noise and light pollution it will cause is just ridiculous. 'The idling cars going round the side and the smell as well, the potential for rats and vermin. 'It's just all a recipe for disaster; the lights alone are going to make our bedrooms light up like Oxford Street at Christmas. 'This is a quiet area, we never have too much trouble and too much noise – So having deliveries and mopeds all through the night, it's going to be really disruptive.' (Image: CB) The closest McDonald's drive-thrus for people in Brighton and Hove are currently the stores in Eastern Avenue, Shoreham, or Brighton Marina. Residents have also raised concerns that the McDonald's would be considerably close to the drive-thru Burger King in the Goldstone Retail Park which is also applying for a '24 hour' licence. Brighton and Hove City Councillors have added their voices in opposition to the proposed plans, with Cllr Jacob Allen, the now cabinet member for customer services and public realm, saying that the approval of the plans 'only serve to benefit a multinational corporation at the expense of the health and dietary wellbeing of children'. Left: Cllr John Hewitt shares concerns for the impact of littering on the Hove cemetery (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus) Cllr John Hewitt, representing Hangleton and Knoll, shared his ward's frustrations and concerns with the plans. He told The Argus: 'This area is a real traffic hotspot getting in and out on to the Old Shoreham Road. 'One of my real concerns is it being a 24-7 operation. No other business on this estate operates like that. It will have a real detrimental effect to the residents who literally back onto the rear of the site.' When McDonald's was approached for comment, a spokeswoman said: 'We are excited about the opportunity to open a new restaurant in Hove, bringing significant investment and 120 new jobs to the local area. 'At McDonald's we strive to be a good neighbour in the communities in which we operate and we look forward to continuing to work with the local community and stakeholders to address any concerns they may have.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Katter hits back after Irwin croc sledge
Maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter has hit back at Terri Irwin after she publicly criticised the Katter's Australian Party (KAP) latest bill to cull crocodiles in the north of the state. Mrs Irwin described the amended proposal as 'lazy and sloppy' earlier in the week and warned it would 'turn the clock back to the dark and destructive days prior to the 1970s'. The bill claims Queensland has seen a giant increase in crocodile numbers, which Terri Irwin disputes, as justification for removing and euthanising crocs found in 'populated' waterways, and enabling hunting safaris on Aboriginal-controlled land. However, on Friday Mr Katter hit back at the animal conservationist, questioning her knowledge of crocodile preservation in Australia. 'Mrs Irwin … said that I'm a dangerous person and it's the only time I've ever agreed with her in my life,' he said in a video posted to Facebook. '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 I would argue. 'Versace and the other big fashion houses have huge crocodile farms here.' Mr Katter went on to explain that the best crocodile handlers in the world have 'always been here in Australia'. 'She knows all about it well …. I'm a bit fascinated by that … how would you know about crocodiles if you live in Brisbane?' he said while laughing. 'Oh that's right she's got them all locked up in a cage in Brisbane I'd forgotten about that.' But Mrs Irwin has earlier claimed the amended bill – which imagines currently croc-infested waterways being used recreationally – is 'reckless, ill-informed and dangerous on so many levels'. In a 14-page long submission, Irwin argued a false sense of security may be created by the proposals, which would actually increase crocodile-related deaths. 'The removal of crocodiles, either through trapping or culling, will instead increase the likelihood of crocodile attacks as people believe the lie that once a crocodile is removed from a waterway then there will be no crocodiles,' she wrote. 'Research has consistently shown that when a crocodile dies or is removed, then another crocodile immediately comes in to take over that territory. Because of this reality, the Bill will not eliminate or even greatly reduce the risk of crocodile attacks.' Irwin also disputed claims that crocodile numbers have dramatically increased, saying there is no Queensland data to confirm that and the bill's cited increase does not account for multiple sightings of the same croc. 'It is the Irwin family and Australia Zoo's belief that individual culling and relocation are not effective ways to manage crocodile/human coexistence; rather, research and educating people are the key,' she said. 'The best course of action is for people in crocodile territory to be 'Croc-wise', reduce risk wherever possible and take sensible steps to minimise human-crocodile interaction.' KAP MP Shane Knuth spoke about the bill at state parliament last month, stating North Queenslanders are 'angry about losing more of our recreational waterways to the increasing crocodile population'. 'The constant threat of attacks, recent deaths and near-death experiences are dramatically affecting North Queensland's outdoor lifestyle,' he said. 'We never had to worry about the threats of crocodiles in our recreational waterways and beaches until the last two decades.' Crocodiles are protected in Queensland and remain listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
