Victoria’s Coalition pledges to rehome brumbies if elected

Victoria’s Liberal-Nationals have promised to halt the eradication of brumbies, using rehoming and veterinary methods if elected in November.

The Coalition wants to rehome brumbies, rather than shoot them.

Victoria’s Liberal-Nationals have promised to end Labor’s push to eradicate brumbies from Barmah and the Alpine National Parks, if elected in November.

Nationals Leader Peter Walsh and Opposition environment spokesman James Newbury were due to join brumby supporters on the steps of Parliament today, to announce their strategy.

“Unlike Labor, the Liberals and Nationals will rule out the aerial and ground shooting of brumbies,” Mr Walsh said.

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

The Coalition has promised to end shooting and instead:

CONDUCT a thorough and more accurate assessment of the brumby population.

USE population management methods that focus on rehoming and veterinary intervention.

LIAISE with NSW to co-ordinate efforts across state borders.

Last month The Weekly Times first reported the Victorian Government had issued tender documents seeking ground shooting contractors to help eradicate brumbies from the parks.

Parks Victoria called for shooters to cull horses in Victoria’s Alpine and Barmah National Parks, but demanded they use silencers and operate covertly, due to what it calls the “significant risk posed by feral horse activists”.

The tender also warns any leaks of information of any kind by the contractor would “be deemed a breach of contract” and that carcasses must be hidden from public view or carved up and disposed of.

Mr Walsh 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”.

In parliamentary budget hearings last month, Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Parks Victoria admitted they were working towards “eradication (of brumbies) over the forward years”, of about 500 horses in Barmah and up to 5000 in the Alps.

Mr Newbury said current control measures were extreme and disrespected the special connection many Victorians feel with the brumby.

“The Andrews Labor Government knows that its brutal control measures are cruel and inhumane, admitting as much with its secret agreements and extreme efforts to hide massacred carcasses from public view,” Mr Newbury said.

“Humane measures to rehome animals and veterinary intervention will manage Victoria’s brumby population in a way that guarantees the welfare of animals.”