UPDATE: In a bold and controversial move, veteran MP Bob Katter has proposed that bored rugby league players be armed with rifles and sent to national parks to combat feral animals during the off-season. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Katter’s unorthodox suggestion aims to address the growing problem of invasive species in North Queensland.
Katter, representing a constituency known for its rugby league passion, expressed his concern that with the conclusion of the NRL Grand Final, “one thousand north Queensland rugby league players are bored.” He emphasized, “The idle mind is a devil’s workshop,” urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “give the boys back their rifles and licensed, I emphasise licensed, access to national parks.”
In response, Albanese acknowledged the seriousness of pest control, stating that invasive species have a “real impact” on wildlife. He redirected the conversation to Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, who outlined existing government initiatives to manage the spread of feral animals.
Katter, who has spent over three decades in federal parliament, has a history of advocating for increased access to firearms. His previous calls for arming young teens to defend Australia and proposals for safari-style crocodile hunting tours highlight his controversial stance on wildlife management. “If you have five million rifles in Australia, you have to have a hundred million man army to invade Australia, and hold it,” he remarked during a Sky News interview.
The MP is no stranger to controversy, having made headlines in 2017 during Australia’s gay marriage postal survey and more recently facing backlash for threatening a journalist over questions about his Lebanese heritage in August 2023.
As discussions continue about the management of feral animals and the implications of Katter’s proposal, many are watching closely. Could this unconventional idea gain traction among lawmakers? The debate over wildlife management and firearm access in Australia is heating up, and Katter’s audacious suggestion may just be the catalyst for change.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as it captures the attention of both supporters and critics alike.
