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Tim Bull seeks to halt brumby shooting and redirect funds to explore alternative solutions

Tim Bull, Gippsland East Nationals MP, urged an end to brumby shooting, citing the inefficacy and cruel outcomes. He proposed redirecting funds to pressing local needs and engaging with interested parties for alternate solutions.

By news@gippsland - 4th December 2023 - Back to News

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has used the final sitting week of Parliament to again request an end to the shooting of brumbies in the High Country. Mr Bull said the culling by contracted shooters, which is going on across the border in NSW as well, is not producing good outcomes.

Instead of spending millions on brumby eradication, the government could have spent better and more beneficial projects to regional Victoria like address pressing issues like road, health, education, and aid for timber workers

Concerns on brumby

Mr Bull said, "I have heard from very reliable sources of foals being found starving after their mothers have been shot, and another of a horse dragging its paralysed hind quarters behind that had to be put out of its misery. While this could be the result of recreational and illegal shooters, my point is the millions we are spending on trying to eradicate brumbies could be much better spent at the present time, including on getting rid of illegal shooters."

"Not to mention our shocking roads, health crisis, mental health crisis, transition funds for timber workers, pest plant control or our failing education system to support our local schools better. I am not at all comfortable that the government has considered the brumbies a tourist attraction. Many come to East Gippsland to photograph and paint them and we have sightseeing tour businesses," he said.

Timber and brumby forum

Mr Bull added, "They take away our timber industry, can't rebuild basic fire infrastructure four years later and then waste money on this, which the majority of locals do not support. There is no doubt that brumby controls are required and I have not yet met a person who does not agree with that, but eradication is in my view a step too far and we have a large number of people who are putting their hands up to reduce numbers by other methods."

"What I would like to see is the government genuinely sit down and conduct a serious forum with these interested parties, something that has not yet happened. We have another Budget being prepared now that will be released in early May. What we need is the budget to eradicate brumbies removed and have the funds allocated to a higher area of need. Then some serious discussions with the groups that are happy to assist in alternate control measures should follow," said Mr Bull.

Pictures from Tim Bull MP website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com