THE Member for Monaro John Barilaro has reiterated his position against the aerial culling of brumbies.

His comments come as a review of current Kosciuszko Horse Management Plan of 2008 is underway.  

Mr Barilaro says the brumbies are a quintessential Australian symbol and they have earned their place as part of the iconic bush heritage in his region and must be protected.

 “Love it or hate it, wild horses are now part of the Kosciuszko environment and I will passionately fight any move towards culling,” Mr Barilaro said.

“Kosciuszko National Park exists to protect the unique environment, that unique environment includes the wild brumbies.

“If the number of wild horses is excessive, as stated by National Parks, then non-lethal means of managing their numbers should be implemented.”

Mr Barilaro said there are few places in the world where wild horses can roam and are a drawcard for tourism. 

He said the current control method of trapping and re-homing wild horses makes sense and works well.

“Brumbies are cultural icons, allowing them to be slaughtered is unacceptable - to even consider this inhumane method extremely distasteful,” he said.

“There are kinder ways to control wild horse numbers such as programs that break brumbies in and offer them for sale - I cannot accept that anyone that calls themselves conservationists would condone an aerial culling program.” 

Mr Barilaro said he will continue to urge the NSW Government to support his stance.

“I look forward to discussing this issue in depth with the Environment Minister Rob Stokes,” he said.

Snowy Mountains Brumby meeting

The Snowy Mountains Brumby Sustainability and Management Group (SMBSMG) is holding a community meeting to garner public support in the South East for brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP).

The meeting will be held on July 12, 1pm at the Lake Jindabyne Hotel. 

It will give supporters of the brumby an opportunity to hear and endorse two resolutions that will be directed to the NSW Premier Mike Baird.

The two resolutions are:

1. That the NSW state government enact legislation to ban aerial culling of the brumby in NSW.

2. That the state government suspend, immediately, all brumby bait/lure trapping and handling campaigns currently implemented across Kosciuszko National Park.

SMBSMG encourages anyone who wants to see brumbies continue to live in Kosciuszko National Park  to attend the meeting.