Thursday, 9 June 2022

Northern Victoria Region

Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:37): (1834) My question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Last sitting week I exposed the disgusting plans to commence shooting brumbies in both the Barmah and Alpine national parks. This planned slaughter is going ahead despite the Barmah Brumby Preservation Group having established a sanctuary which has ample space and that group having a list of names of people who wish to rehome a brumby. Sadly, the Andrews Labor government has already commenced the shooting, with locals finding the carcasses of at least 33 horses covered with branches and left to rot in the forest as of Tuesday, 31 May. This has caused extreme distress to many locals who have come across the carcasses. The slaughter is being carried out in secret despite the government’s own advertised tender not even closing until 8 June, and it is sickening that horses are being shot when there are designated places for them to go. Minister, why won’t the Andrews Labor government support the Barmah locals to rehome the brumbies instead of shooting them?