WEATHER
Cairns: 20-31C max, 90% chance of rain
Port Douglas: 24-31C max, 90% chance of rain
Mareeba: 17-29C max, 50% chance of rain
Innisfail: 19-29C max, 90% rain

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

KATTER ON THE CROC WARPATH AGAIN
Bob Katter and members of his Australian Party will be touring the Far North this week to gauge public support for crocodile culling, egg harvesting and Indigenous-ranger-led shooting safaris.

The crocodile consultation tour will also reveal details of a proposed crocodile farm on the banks of the Johnstone River in Innisfail.

If Katter’s planned legislation to legalise crocodile killing is passed at state parliament in May, the proposed Innisfail farm could be allowed to kill wild-caught crocs for their skins.

News Limited reports that Australian Party MP Shane Knuth has been in discussions about the farm with Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor John Kremastos.

The croc forums, open to the public, will be held in Mareeba and Innisfail on Wednesday and Port Douglas on Thursday.

CAIRNS DIVE COMPANY SUED BY UNDERWATER FILMMAKER
The son of famous underwater filmmaker Ben Cropp is suing a Cairns dive company after getting the bends on a diving trip.

Adam Cropp was working for Cairns-based Tusa Dive in 2012 as a divemaster when he became ill after completing 35 dives.

Mr Cropp alleges the company failed to contact the Townsville Hyperbaric Centre so he could be treated within 24 hours of getting decompression illness.

He says the incident has cut short his career as an underwater filmmaker, as he is no longer able to dive.

Mr Cropp is seeking more than $475,000 in damages.

EDU-TOURISM ON THE UP IN TNQ
The burgeoning educational tourism sector in Cairns has received a boost following a successful international forum held in the city last week.

The Australia New Zealand Agent (ANZA) Workshop attracted hundreds of educators, work and travel organisations, industry service providers and international agents from nearly 50 countries.

Billed as the most successful ANZA workshop in its ten year history, the event added an estimated $780,000 to the local economy, as well as promoting Cairns edu-tourism to the world.

Nearly 30,000 international students from over 76 countries study in Cairns each year.

It is estimated that international education brings in over $150m annually to TNQ and directly employs 1050 people.

Full story to come soon on TropicNow.

JOHNATHAN THURSTON TO RETURN WITHIN THREE WEEKS
Despite fears of an end-of-career wipeout, the prognosis for Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston is looking good, with news that a calf-tear will likely keep the co-captain off the field for no longer than three weeks.

It’s great news for the team and its supporters, but the team – plagued by injury woes – will still be in for a rough couple of weeks.

Since he joined the team in 2005, the Cowboys have won less than 30 per cent of their games when playing without Thurston.