Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (17:14): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Last weekend many of us took time to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of Gallipoli and hopefully to reflect on the timeless values and the nation for which those brave soldiers fought. Those brave soldiers were joined on the battlefields by other courageous companions, our warhorses. These horses were an integral part of our war effort, with 39 348 Walers serving with the First Australian Imperial Force. The descendants of these inspirational animals now roam free in the wild among the beautiful Victorian brumbies. Sadly the Victorian government now wants to shoot their descendants, who have become scapegoats for environmental damage caused by a range of pests.

On Saturday I was pleased to attend a rally against this proposal in Barmah. There were many passionate advocates for the brumbies in attendance—who all are stridently opposed to the proposal. I spoke to rally participants about the Victorian government’s ignorance of rural life and their persistent attempts to erode our traditions. There was once a time when the High Country and its brumby population were managed by those who cared for the land, the mountain cattlemen. While grazing their stock they would attend to unhealthy, old and sick horses where necessary while preserving the healthy herds. Now dictates from bureaucrats in Melbourne govern the High Country, and rather than controlling the population of far more destructive and populous species such as deer, pigs, dogs, cats, foxes et cetera, they choose to shoot brumbies, animals fundamentally that they see as symbols of Victoria’s colonial past—a past they would prefer to erase. This is unacceptable and these creatures, beloved by many Victorians, should be left to roam free, not shot. The action I seek from the minister is to reveal just how much effort is being undertaken to cull the deer, pig, dog and cat populations, which are the real culprits of native flora and fauna destruction.