Thursday, 4 May 2023

Responses

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (22:38): There were 13 adjournment matters this evening to various ministers, and I will ensure that there are responses forthcoming. In relation to Ms Bath’s adjournment matter regarding removal of willow tree stumps and weed eradication in Mitta Mitta, I believe it is Minister Shing, the Minister for Water, but we will clarify that. In any event, one of us will get back to Ms Bath.

In relation to Mrs McArthur’s adjournment matter regarding feral horses, I will acquit that matter now. I know it has been a long day, so I will do my best to be succinct. The Victorian government has got an obligation to protect our precious environment and our threatened species, and we do know that feral horses have a pretty devastating impact on our biodiversity and our Aboriginal cultural heritage in many landscapes across the state. Controlling introduced species is certainly very important in the wake of the devastating bushfires and floods that we have recently been dealing with. Parks Victoria have a responsibility to fulfil their legal obligation to control invasive species across our national parks and on our public land, and that includes feral horses, pigs, goats and of course deer. I am sure many people would include rabbits in that list of invasive species.

We certainly know that feral horses cause long-term and large-scale damage to conservation and biodiversity values in both the Alpine and the Barmah national parks, and as a result Parks Victoria developed the Protection of the Alpine National Park: Feral Horse Action Plan 2021 and the Barmah Strategic Action Plan to guide the management of feral horses. In those plans we are committed to taking action to manage horse population, and we are delivering on that. Feral horses are being removed from parks through a range of measures, including capture, rehoming and targeted ground shooting by professionals in line with that Barmah Strategic Action Plan and also up in the Alpine National Park. The plan confirms that the first priority is to rehome feral horses to the extent that suitable rehoming opportunities can be found, and I know that Mrs McArthur is very well aware of this process. I encourage anybody who wants to be part of that rehoming program to contact Parks Victoria.

We know that feral horse management is something that needs to be planned carefully and implemented under strict protocols, ensuring that the operation is focused on safety, on animal humane ethics and on meeting all of Parks Victoria’s legal obligations. Parks Victoria do maintain a proactive and collaborative approach with Victoria Police, who have had occasion to be involved in these matters. In terms of Mrs McArthur’s long list of requests for certain operational information, I will not be commenting on any of those operational matters in order to protect the safety of the Parks Victoria staff and the contractors that are undertaking this important work.

The PRESIDENT: The house stands adjourned.

House adjourned 10:42 pm.