Wes Fang has called NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman a “brumby killer”. Photo: NSW Parliament.
Wagga-based Nationals MP Wes Fang has branded the leader of his own side of politics a “brumby killer” after learning the Liberal Party will support a new bill aimed at increasing the culling of wild horses in the Snowy Mountains.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman told a press conference the Liberal Party “will not block” independent MP Dr Joe McGirr’s bill to repeal former deputy premier John Barilaro’s Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which recognised the heritage value of the brumbies and sought to preserve their presence in the Snowy Mountains.
“As environment minister, I saw the extraordinary damage that feral horses do in the Kosciuszko National Park,” Mr Speakman said.
“It is one of the most important natural environments we have in this country, and we have to preserve it. That means the [Barilaro Bill] needs to go.”
The Coalition was united in supporting Mr Barilaro’s bill in 2018, but seven years later the Liberals want to repeal it while the Nationals are expected to hold the line. NSW Labor will support Dr McGirr’s bill, meaning it will pass with the support of the Liberals.
“The Liberal Party is trying to save seats that are under attack from the Greens [and] have lurched to the left and continue to betray the ideals that they supported previously,” Mr Fang said.
“To be honest, they look more like Greens policies than what policies were previously supported by them [Liberals].”
During a recent parliamentary debate on the topic, Mr Fang called Mr Speakman a “brumby killer”, a remark from which he did not back down.
“[Mr Speakman] has decided to support the repeal of the Wild Horse Heritage Bill, which will effectively allow the government to cull all the existing brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park,” Mr Fang told Region.
Scientists have highlighted the damage that feral horses can cause to the environment and wildlife, but Mr Fang believes there isn’t an “environmental cost” as long as the brumby population is contained to around 3000.
“We support the removal of feral animals, however the brumbies have a heritage and cultural value to Australia,” Mr Fang said.
“We support the science that has proven we can do both matters: retaining the brumbies and supporting the environment.”
Jack Gough, CEO of environmental group Invasive Species Council, disagrees.
“Wes Fang is out on his own. There’s no one else I can talk to in the National Party who thinks this is a good idea,” he said.
“No one likes to see animals killed.
“But the sad reality is that we have a choice to make: either we remove the thousands of feral horses trashing and trampling the alpine areas, or, as the Threatened Species Scientific Community said, horses could be the final nail in the coffin for up to a dozen of our native species.
“Remember, this is not a horse paddock. This is a national park. We’ve set it aside because of its natural values, and there’s almost no one left who thinks that we need to keep feral horses anymore.”
When asked if this split meant anything for the Coalition, Mr Fang said it was “really a question for the Liberal Party to answer to the voters about why they continue to change their policies and adopt more Greens policies”.
Mr Speakman declined to comment on Mr Fang calling him a “brumby killer”, with his office saying it was a matter for NSW National leader Dugald Saunders.
Region asked Mr Saunders’ office if the Nationals leader thought Mr Fang’s comment was acceptable, but he also declined to comment.
Dr McGirr’s office said he was hopeful the bill would be debated and voted on this week, but the parliamentary schedule was decided by the NSW Labor Government.
