Matt Canavan demands BBC apologise after broadcaster uses wrong crocodile footage

Nationals leader Matt Canavan has lashed the BBC and called on the UK broadcaster to apologise after incorrect footage of crocodile-infested waters was used in a report about the 2032 Olympic Games rowing competition.

The video report, titled “River with 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue”, was released across the BBC’s online platform and social media sites last week.

It features stock footage of crocodiles lurking in a river, with BBC journalist Ana Guerra-Moore urging viewers to imagine competing in a rowing competition in crocodile-infested waters.

However, Senator Canavan claimed the footage featured displayed not the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton, which the International Olympic Committee last week signed off on as the venue for the 2032 Olympic rowing venue, but the Fitzroy River in Western Australia.

“The BBC report was off by just the small amount of 3,500 kilometres,” he said.

“This overseas junk clickbait report has been seen by millions and spread total lies about Queensland – it must be stopped.”

“I can assure international media that any fake reports will come back to ‘bite’ them, because they will soon realise Rockhampton is the perfect choice for the 2032 rowing venue,” he said.

“I want to assure international media that the Fitzroy River – the Queensland one – is safe and also the perfect venue for the 2032 Games.”

Debate has raged for months over the suitability of the Fitzroy River, which snakes through Rockhampton in Central Queensland, for the games.

The IOC last week approved the venue following an independent technical assessment.

Premier David Crisafulli welcomed the approval last week, stating that it would leave a “lasting legacy for Central Queensland”.

“We acknowledge World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide’s official endorsement of the Fitzroy River for Olympic and Paralympic events, and now we can move toward delivering this Games for all of Queensland,” he said in a statement.

“Regional Queensland deserves to be on the world stage and the many legacy benefits of generational infrastructure, tourism and housing that will follow.”

In a separate statement, World Rowing confirmed Rockhampton would “safe, fair and consistent field of play under the conditions assessed”, but said several additional elements had been requested for the next stage of planning.