In 2018 the Parliament of New South Wales unaniomously agreed to enact Legislation, "The Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018" ("the Act") to recognise the Heritage value of Brumbies living in the Kosciusko National Park.
Section 4, the Object of the Act states
"to recognise the value of sustainable wild horse populations within parts of Kosciuszko National Park and to protect that heritage".
A Community Advisory Panel as proscribed under the Legislation was created, to advise on a new Management Plan to replace the 2008 Management Plan. Despite the object and intent of the Legislation, the Minister for the Environment continued to trap Brumbies, those not rehomed have been routinely sent to knackeries for dog food and shot despite public outcry.
The 2008 Management Plan specifically states Brumbies shall not be shot.
A new Management Plan has been completed and delivered to the Minister's Office by the Community Advisory Panel.
The Minister for Environment, has and continues to take actions that can only be described as undermining the object and intent of the Act . Since receiving the new draft Management Plan he has increased trapping.
The population of Brumbies now living in the Kosciuszko National Park are unknown; there has been no population count since the wildfires of 2019. The last report prepared to the Alpine National Park Authority in 2009 indicated a decrease in Brumby populations by at least 50% following the then last bushfire in about 2004. The wildfires of 2019 were unlike any other previous bushfire insofar as destruction of wildlife. It is reasonable to assume that Brumby populations were reduced by at least 50%.
Trapping and sending Brumbies to knackeries, from unknown populations can not be considered maintaining
"sustainable wild horse populations", and most certainly not an action that could be described as an action designed
"to protect that Heritage".
WE CALL UPON THE MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT to :
1. Immediately cease trapping. Trapping pregnant mares and foals of 6 weeks, mingled with stallions, is cruel and potentially inhumane.
2. Make the Management Plan prepared under the Legislation immediately available for public submission;
3. Cease to allow your Department to be controlled by extremist unelected bureaucrats and listen to the public who elected you.
4. Encourage respect for the surviving Heritage Brumby populations living in the Kosciuszko National Park.
Contact the Minister for Environment today, and share with him how you feel about these actions:
Phone: (02) 9476 3411
Fax: (02) 9476 2965
Mailing Address:
Mr Matt Kean MP
Suite 5, The Madison,
25-29 Hunter Street,
Hornsby NSW 2077
Image: Foals trapped in Kosciuszko National Park 26 November 2020 waiting their fate.
Photo: The Memory Keepers Pocket