The NSW Parliament has debated whether to repeal the controversial Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act, following a powerful, community-led campaign that saw 11,331 people sign a petition calling for the law to be scrapped.
The petition – coordinated by Invasive Species Council volunteers – was tabled by Independent Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, and backed by MPs from across the political spectrum in a debate that saw no opposition voices speak in support of the Act.
Almost 100 supporters travelled to Parliament to witness the historic debate from the public gallery.
“The ridiculous Barilaro law was never based on science – it was a political stunt that protects a population of destructive feral horses in Australia’s fragile alpine national park,” Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough said.
“It was a real demonstration of the public and political shift on this issue that not a single opposition voice spoke in parliament during the debate.
Latest Stories
“We knew John Barilaro was on his own when the Act came in and without him in the parliament it’s clear this law has no friends, apart from a few fringe voices in the Upper House.”
Reclaim Kosci petition coordinator Linda Groom said the petition started bushwalker’s plea for helpand grew into a people-powered push to protect the mountains.
“I’m proud that more than 11,300 people added their name to call time on this destructive law and I’m even prouder to see the community rally together with almost 100 people travelling across the state to attend the debate,” she said.
“It is clear that there is overwhelming support for removing feral horses – including through lethal control – in order to give these alpine landscapes a chance to heal and prevent species, found nowhere else on earth, from extinction.”
‘Feral horses trample our fragile landscapes, pollute our streams and damage sacred Country,” Snowy River guide, Reclaim Kosci founder and Invasive Species Council Indigenous Ambassador Richard Swain said.
“Finally, the health of the soil, water and our native species in the Snowy Mountains is healing but we now need to fix the ridiculous law that still protects a feral animal over our native plants and animals.
“For the sake of the high Country it is past time that we put to bed the senseless arguments and accept the evidence that removing feral horses is the only way of protecting Country from this destruction.”
