On 3 February 2021 Bev McArthur MP spoke in Parliament about the Barmah Brumbies asking the Minister for the Environment to produce the reports on the floodplain marshes.
She later released the following Media Release:
"One of the Victorian Government’s main arguments for shooting all brumbies in the Barmah National Park could collapse.
The Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has approved the eradication of the historic brumby population to ‘reduce the impacts and restore the health of the floodplain marshes’.
The Joint Management Plan for the park also outlines ‘restoring Moira grasslands and marshes’.
But Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has queried the need for shooting the brumbies given the management plan itself has identified other causes of the habitat loss.
“It is the changed irrigation of the park which has been the primary reason.
“Before the river was regulated, the forest was flooded in winter from rain and in spring from melting snow upland swelling the streams.
“This no longer happens, and its impact is noted in the plan. Restoring an ‘improved water regime’ is mentioned even before culling,” Mrs McArthur has told parliament.
She has also highlighted recent comments to the ABC by a Senior Wetland Ecologist at the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority that the Moira grasses are in excellent condition.
“He said ‘it is some of the best Moira Grass I have seen in years.
“It is a rather inconvenient statement for those looking on the demise of the grass as the key reason for culling the brumbies,” Mrs McArthur said.
While some damage has been caused in the national park by trampling and grazing, the brumbies are not the main culprits, though they are the key scapegoat for Parks Victoria.
“Substantial populations of feral pigs, deer, sheep, goats and rabbits are identified in the document.
“These populations should be controlled first – they have none of the cultural or heritage value.
“In combination with improved water regimes, this would likely solve any remaining degradation without resorting to the slaughter of the brumby population.”
The Minister has been asked to immediately release the condition reports on the floodplain marshes.
“If it turns out the floodplain is recovering – even in the presence of a healthy brumby population – what remains of the argument for brumby slaughter will collapse altogether.”
Please sign the Petition Letter to Members of Parliament calling for the introduction of Legislation to protect all Victorian Brumbies.
Photo Barmah Brumby by Keryn Buckley with the Everlasting Flowers that are blooming in all their glory.