Protesters call for end to state government culling of wild horses

Protesters of a rally at Parliament House bore signs urging the state government to “have a heart”. Watch the video here.

Northern Victoria residents rallied outside Parliament House on Wednesday afternoon calling for an end to the state government’s culling of wild horses in Victorian national parks.

Attendees bore signs labelling the cull, outlined in a Parks Victoria tender, “mass murder” and urging the government to “have a heart”.

The protest followed the discovery of more than 30 brumby carcasses in Barmah National Park in the past week by members of the Barmah Brumby Preservation Group.

Barmah Brumby Preservation Group vice president Murray Willaton called the rally “very successful” and estimated “hundreds” came along.

“I’m happy with the fact that the pressure is now on the Labor government to stop the shooting of the brumbies,” he said.

“Now that this has gone public, people are starting to realise that their methods of reducing the numbers in Barmah at the moment is just absolutely disgusting.”

The Victorian Liberal and National Parties said on Wednesday that if elected they would end Labor’s “cruel plan” to slaughter feral horses by shooting them.

Nationals leader Peter Walsh said his party’s plan would completely rule out the aerial and ground killing of brumbies.

“We agree with the tens of thousands of Victorians who believe brumby populations can be managed without cruel methods or total eradication,” he said.

“Labor’s approach doesn’t deliver good outcomes for the environment, with abandoned carcasses that are left to rot only serving to feed up destructive and vicious pest animals like wild dogs.

Liberal leader Matthew Guy said brumbies had frequented the High Country for a long time and “you’ve got to be humane”.

“We can rehome greyhounds,” he said.

“We should be able to do that with brumbies.”

Protesters advocated to “stop the guns” and “stop the bullets” used to cull wild horses. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio rubbished the pledge, calling it a “recipe for destroying” the environment.

“We know that feral horses do not have a place in these pristine environments,” she said.

“We need to do all we can to protect our biodiversity.

“The opposition’s policy is simply a recipe for destroying everything that is special and unique about Victoria’s environment.

“It is also very reckless and has no regard even for the health of these feral horses. The fact is, not all of them are in good shape.”

Protesters at Parliament House on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A Parks Victoria spokesman said before Wednesday the organisation had an obligation to control invasive species, which included feral horses causing long-term and widespread damage to native plants and animals.

“The most humane feral horse management techniques have been selected on the best advice, and Parks Victoria needs to respond to the current situation with the best techniques available,” he said.