Call for halt to brumby cull

State Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish has joined her Liberal National colleagues to call for an immediate halt to Labor’s planned brumby cull.

Hearing from many concerned locals, Ms McLeish is advocating to stop the cull of Victoria’s highland brumbies and for a humane and ethical management strategy to be introduced.

Ms McLeish said, “Brumbies are an iconic part of Victorian High Country and of our State’s cultural identity.”

“Whilst maintaining biodiversity in Victoria’s parks is necessary, any management of brumby populations must be conducted ethically and sustainably.”

“We cannot ignore communities’ objections to culling these brumbies.”

High Country communities have made it clear they don’t support Labor’s brumby cull. Even the Andrews Government’s 2018 Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan recognised this, finding that shooting had “limited public support” and should only be used as a last resort.

Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agricu

lture, Peter Walsh said, “Daniel Andrews is ignoring country communities and Labor’s own policy by pushing ahead with this cull.

“Despite targeting brumbies, other destructive animals like deer, wild dogs and pigs are running wild through our national parks and forests because the Andrews Government has failed to put appropriate control measures in place,” Mr Walsh concludes.

Ms McLeish continues, “I have previously called on the Minister for Agriculture to release the deer management strategy, after residents continue to express concerns about escalating deer numbers and the damage they are causing. After two years of waiting, the Minister has failed in this regard.

“It’s estimated there are about 300 sambar deer for every one brumby in Victoria’s High Country, so I think the Labor Government have their priorities wrong.”

“We must recognise the importance of brumbies to our national cultural heritage and consult the community before making reckless culling decisions,” Ms McLeish concludes.