NSW Bill protecting Snowy Mountains brumbies could be repealed in new push

News.com.au

5 days ago

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, 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'We're already seeing early signs of ecological recovery – but unless this law is repealed we will still have over 3000 horses trashing one third of the national park.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.
'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.