Croc vision pulled after 2032 rowing coverage complaint

Controversial crocodile vision has been removed after complaints over a UK broadcaster's 2032 Brisbane rowing venue coverage.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan says the BBC has issued a correction after he claimed they used "scary" croc footage from another river in a post about the proposed Olympic site.

In a story about the central Queensland venue titled "River with 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue", a giant reptile is shown lurking in the Fitzroy River.

However Senator Canavan said the footage was from Western Australia's Fitzroy River - about 3500km away.

He said the BBC had since issued a correction, stating: "an earlier version of this video included footage of the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia instead of the Fitzroy River in Queensland.

Senator Canavan welcomed the decision, saying the story was now using library footage.

The Instagram post on Monday featured the croc footage in a story about the Rockhampton venue being endorsed by world governing bodies for 2032, asking "Would you go rowing in this river?".

Senator Canavan was livid over the footage used, saying the report was "so full of it I am just surprised they didn't report that our town was infested with drop bears too".

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also weighed in, calling the coverage a "crock".

Rockhampton-based Senator Canavan warned international media any fake reports would come back to bite them.

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

The Queensland government had been under pressure to reconsider the rowing venue since pitching it in March 2025, prompting debate over the Fitzroy River's safety, fairness and legacy.

Mr Crisafulli last week reportedly blindsided Olympic officials when he claimed the venue had passed an independent technical assessment "with flying colours" and been endorsed by world governing bodies.

Critics have warned the state government it was not over the line yet with the International Olympic Committee yet to approve a sustainability and environmental report.