NSW Bill protecting Snowy Mountains brumbies could be repealed in new push
Don't miss out on the headlines from Animals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Controversial laws protecting NSW's famed Snowy Mountains brumbies could be scrapped under a new Bill as parks staff celebrate success in their aerial culling campaign.
Independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr is expected to give notice on Wednesday of his intention to introduce a Bill to repeal the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act.
The Act, introduced by former deputy premier John Barilaro, recognised the 'heritage' value of the feral horses and mandated their population be reduced to 3000.
The Bill faced significant pushback from conservationists and scientists following its introduction in 2018, including a 2023 challenge to its constitutional validity.
Invasive Species chief executive Jack Gough said Labor, the Liberals, and the Greens had all recognised the need to take action to protect the park.
'Parliament now has an opportunity to right a historical wrong by repealing this damaging law which has protected a feral animal over our native wildlife in a national park,' he said
'For the sake of our native animals and precious mountain streams, we are calling on Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman to come together.'
NSW National Parks Association chief executive Gary Dunnett said the expected Bill was a 'long-overdue step' to ensure success of recent aerial culling of brumbies continued.
A May state government report found the number of brumbies in Kosciuszko could be as low as 1500. Picture: Wikimedia
A May state government report found the number of brumbies in Kosciuszko could be as low as 1500, down from a whopping 13,000 to 22,000 in 2024.
The survey put the Labor government well ahead of its legally mandated goal of reducing the population to 3000 by June 30, 2027.
'Feral horse numbers in the park are finally trending downward,' Mr Dunnett said.
'No one likes to see animals killed but this is the tough decision we have to make to protect our wildlife.
'We're already seeing early signs of ecological recovery – but unless this law is repealed we will still have over 3000 horses trashing one third of the national park.
'Now is the time to finish the job.'
Mr Dunnett said the Bill would be a chance to 'right an historic wrong' and protect the future of one of Australia's most precious landscapes.
The future of the Brumbies, an invasive species, is a hot-button issue across Dr McGirr's Wagga Wagga electorate, which covers half of Kosciuszko National Park.
The other half is covered by Labor Minister Steve Whan, who has backed the law's repeal.
Speaking on his proposed Bill, Dr McGirr said the horses caused major damage to the alpine landscape, trampling wetlands and destroying habitat.
Independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr says it's time to reverse a wrong. Picture: Contributed
'It makes no sense to continue with a law that effectively requires that damage to continue,' he said.
'We would never accept a law that prioritises the protection of wild pigs, goats or foxes over native species, yet under the current law, we do just that for horses.
'It is time to reverse a wrong of the past and give the fragile high-country environment a chance to recover from years of degradation.'
More than 11,000 people signed a petition in March to repeal the so-called Brumby Bill.
For its part, the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service released photos in May of restoration to the fragile alpine ecosystem amid the reduction in feral horses.
The Australian Brumby Alliance, which has have been vocally opposed to aerial culling of feral horses, described May's report as 'a horribly vexed tale'.
The organisation is supporting a parallel petition by NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst that is calling on the state government to implement 'nonlethal solutions'.
An attempt to stop aerial culling of wild horses was dismissed by the NSW Supreme Court last year.
Originally published as NSW Bill protecting Snowy Mountains brumbies could be repealed in new push
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Bad news for public servants who want a pay rise
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News. The state government is staring down a $1.2bn wage bill blackhole after using a rejected pay offer to underpin its budget. Frontline workers, like police, teachers, nurses, and firefighters, are fighting for pay bumps as high as 8 per cent, with pressure mounting on the state government to strike a deal with just weeks left on existing wage deals. But Treasurer David Janetzki's first budget, handed down on Tuesday, has made room for public sector employee expenses to grow by just 3.5 per cent on average over the next four years. It means the state government — at worst — faces a wages blackhole worth $1.2bn if the unions get their way. Teachers protesting outside Parliament House this week. Picture: Nigel Hallett Already unions, including those representing nurses and teachers, have rejected the state government's initial pay offer of 3 per cent in the first year followed by 2.5 per cent increases in the subsequent years. Nurses are asking for 'nation leading' wages after their Victorian counterparts secured a 7 per cent increase, while firefighters are expected to request 6 per cent. If frontline workers are successful in getting the pay rises they are asking for, departments will need to find another $16.8m for firefighters, $141.2m for police, $458m for teachers and $587m for health workers. Premier David Crisafulli and Mr Janetzki, in the budget, have touted plans to add 6,073 full-time public servants to the books including 4400 in Queensland Health. But Queensland Council of Unions secretary Jacqueline King has questioned how the government could grow the workforce and make sure existing staff stay on without properly paying essential workers. 'We're concerned that the figures in the budget simply don't add up, and it's clear that the budget is missing millions of dollars to properly pay our public sector work force, including the additional over 6000 new frontline workers they hope to attract,' she said. CFMEU members joined the protest outside Parliament House. Picture: Nigel Hallett 'The government keeps talking about negotiating in good faith, now they need to come to the table with a fair dinkum offer, otherwise we'll end up in a Yes Minister scenario with Queensland's hospitals empty of staff and unable to service our communities.' Mr Crisafulli has repeatedly stated that the government would continue to negotiate in good faith. 'Wages are one component of an important part, so are conditions, so are resources,' he said. 'I do have every belief we will come to a deal … it'll respect taxpayers money will also indicate how much we value public service, secure and well paid and good resources.' The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) are currently undertaking protected strike action following months of failed wage negotiations. Public service jobs are projected to grow by 2.24 per cent in the 2025-26 financial year, from 271,279 to 277,352.
Canberra Times
3 hours ago
- Canberra Times
'That's the priority': ACT govt reveals where new stadium sits in the pecking order
The Property Council of Australia will hold the "From Sidelines to Stadiums: The Future of Sporting Infrastructure" forum on Thursday, bringing together the likes of ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry, Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins and Property Council of Australia ACT executive director Ashlee Berry. ACT Treasurer Chris Steel, right, says a new stadium is still in the government's plans.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australia's Iran fallout warning despite uneasy truce
Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran.
