Photo: Snowy Brumby Photography Adventures with Michelle and Ian. Paid for by the SWST. It is unsure if these two magnificent specimens may still be alive.
Independent Wagga Wagga MP’s repeal push and shifting stance face fresh scrutiny amid ongoing aerial operations and political crosscurrents
Dr Joe McGirr’s legislative success in repealing the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act has accelerated the path to aggressive population control of feral horses (brumbies) in Kosciuszko National Park. However, the independent MP for Wagga Wagga now confronts mounting criticism, legal challenges, vocal federal intervention, and questions over his own evolving position on the issue.
On 9 July 2026, the NSW Land and Environment Court rejected an urgent application by pro-brumby activists seeking an injunction to halt aerial culling. Justice Robson found no sufficient likelihood of success or established breach of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act or standard operating procedures. This marks at least the sixth failed court bid in recent years to stop feral horse control measures in NSW and Victorian national parks. A broader legal challenge remains ongoing.
Angus Taylor Enters the Fray
Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has become a prominent voice opposing the cull. In June 2026, Taylor spoke at the “Save the Brumbies” rally in Kiandra, describing aerial shooting as “inhumane” and calling for locals to regain control of management. He emphasised the brumbies’ role in Australia’s history and way of life, vowing to raise the issue in Canberra. Taylor has posted videos and statements portraying the horses as symbols under threat and criticising the state government’s approach. Some activists have dismissed his involvement as “cosplay,” but it has amplified national attention on the debate.
Allegations Over Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Stance
Critics and brumby advocates have alleged that the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) Party adjusted or softened elements of its previous opposition to the cull or related legislation. These claims suggest the change followed perceived preferential treatment from the NSW government, such as expanded hunting access or other rural concessions. SFF has historically engaged with both animal management and hunting interests; any direct quid pro quo remains unconfirmed in mainstream reporting but circulates in activist circles as a point of contention.
McGirr’s Stance: From Support for Control to Full Repeal Push
McGirr’s role has drawn particular attention for what many describe as a complete backflip. In early 2023, he publicly called for repeal of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act, arguing it “muddied the waters” and hindered “aggressive action” to control the horses, whose numbers had surged unsustainably. He supported the NSW Government’s decision to conduct aerial culling, describing it as a “tough decision – but the right one” to protect the alpine environment while aiming for a sustainable population around 3,000 that could still honour some bush heritage.
By mid-2025, McGirr introduced the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Repeal Bill, backed it through parliament with cross-party support (including Labor and Liberals), and presented an 11,000-signature petition. The Act was repealed in late 2025, removing statutory protections and the previous population mandate. Critics, including some in his own electorate and brumby groups, portray this as a sharp reversal from earlier nuanced positions that acknowledged a place for brumbies or heritage values, accusing him of aligning more closely with Labor’s management agenda.
Cull Scale: Past Removals and Future Targets
Control efforts since around 2021 have resulted in more than 9,000 horses removed from the park through a combination of aerial shooting (the majority in intensive periods, with reports exceeding 6,000 by aerial methods in key phases up to 2025), trapping, rehoming, and other means.
Population surveys show significant fluctuation tied to control intensity and pauses:
• Pre-intensified control peaks reached estimates as high as ~23,500.
• By early 2025, numbers had been reduced substantially.
• The 2025 survey (following a pause in aerial operations) estimated 6,476–16,411 horses remaining, with a best single estimate of approximately 10,309. With gestation for horses approximately 11 months and twins rare, the species cannot mathematically replace itself as quick as proponents of the cull are leading residents of NSW and Victoria to believe.
The legal target remains reducing the population to 3,000 by 30 June 2027. But how will that tally that.
The current aerial culling operation resumed in June 2026. Exact figures for horses killed in this specific recent phase are not yet fully detailed in public updates (as operations continue and surveys lag).
Broader Context: Horse Ownership, Welfare Sentiments, and Voter Views
Australia’s horse sector is substantial and culturally significant. The country has well over a million horses in various ownership categories, including working, sporting, and companion animals. Pony clubs engage tens of thousands of participants (primarily youth), fostering equestrian skills and community. Horse racing remains a major industry contributing billions to the economy. Many horses are kept as pets or for recreational riding.
Public sentiment, reflected in polls and advocacy, consistently shows strong opposition to animal cruelty across species. Australians generally support humane management and euthanasia methods when population control is deemed necessary—whether for domestic horses, livestock, or wildlife—while preferring non-lethal options like fertility control or rehoming where feasible and effective. The debate over brumbies highlights tensions between ecological protection, heritage values, and welfare standards, with many voters insisting on transparent, evidence-based, and humane approaches regardless of the animal involved.
Political Outlook for McGirr
McGirr’s Wagga Wagga seat sits in a region where federally the Nationals have long held sway, with One Nation gaining traction in rural areas and a potential strong Liberal challenger emerging. His family’s historic Labor ties (grandfather Greg McGirr was a Labor Deputy Premier; great-uncle James McGirr a Premier) once aided preference flows but may now complicate his independent positioning.
Voters have shown capacity to overlook past governmental shortcomings—including Labor’s earlier corruption scandals exposed by ICAC and ongoing issues like oversight lapses in Transport for NSW—only to reinstall parties after a decade. Whether McGirr can weather the brumby controversy, the court outcomes, Taylor’s intervention, and perceptions of a stance reversal will likely test his political resilience ahead of the next election.
The cull continues under legal and political pressure, with the 2027 target looming and emotions running high on all sides. In the Snowy Mountains, science, sentiment, heritage, and hard politics collide once more.
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