Tuesday, 14 November 2023

Petitions

Barmah strategic action plan

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) presented a petition bearing 1044 signatures:

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the immediate need for financial support to be provided to approved re-homers of brumbies and to stop current eradication plans from the Barmah National Park, Bogong High Plains and the Victorian Alps. The Barmah Strategic Action Plan and the Feral Horse Action Plan 2021 have seen hundreds of brumbies either shot or sent to slaughter unnecessarily. Parks Victoria has stated that a key component of these action plans was to maximise rehoming opportunities. This has not occurred. Wildlife Biology article titled Use of density-impact functions to inform and improve the environmental outcomes of feral horse management highlighted that combined impacts associated with deer, feral pigs, fire and humans are large compared to brumbies. Therefore removing brumbies to reduce their direct impact is unlikely to be beneficial without complementary management to reduce the effects of these other agents of impacts. Parks Victoria should meet community demands, abide by the management plans for rehoming over shooting and undertake a revised number recount with credible methodology. Removal plans must also incorporate financial support for re-homers by the Government who insist on best welfare outcomes.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to direct Parks Victoria to recount brumby populations with improved counting methods and make provisions to assist approved re-homers with financial support.

Bev McARTHUR: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.