PRESS RELEASE
National Brumby Rallies to be Held Across Australia on Saturday 1 August 2026
Brumby supporters to rally against aerial shooting in Kosciuszko National Park
Aerial shooting of Brumby horses in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) was undertaken during July and is scheduled to recommence in November 2026. The program has generated significant public concern with majority of Australians outraged by the inhumane cruelty that we now see. Brumby advocacy groups to campaign against the culling.
One petition opposing aerial culling has attracted more than 260,000 signatures, in addition to several other petitions. Mass public protests and rallies will be held across NSW, ACT, Victoria, SA, WA and Queensland on Saturday the 1st August (horses birthday).
The issue has also gained substantial attention across social media. Independent journalists, local newspapers and mainstream media outlets, including Sky News, Channel 7 and the ABC have reported on the controversy, A Current Affair, interviewing people from mountain communities, Brumby advocates and other stakeholders.
Sydney radio stations including 2GB and 2SM boasting over 7.7 million listeners have also devoted considerable airtime to the issue, with presenters and callers questioning the aerial culling program and scrutinising the actions of NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Premier Chris Minns.
The Invasive Species Council who’s ideology is to elimination all feral animals (animals that did not exist in Australia prior to colonial settlement) in KNP and National Parks around Australia has coursed outraged amongst people across Australia.
Brumby stallions playing
Legal Action in the NSW Land and Environment Court
Members of the public have donated more than $120,000 through GoFundMe to support legal action in the NSW Land and Environment Court. An application has been made seeking an injunction to halt aerial and ground shooting of Brumbies in KNP with a hearing scheduled for September.
International Outrage
The issue has also attracted international attention. American filmmaker Ashley Avis and her documentary team have travelled to Australia to interview mountain residents, Brumby advocates and political representatives, including Angus Taylor MP, leader of the Federal Opposition, for a documentary examining the inhumane management of Australia’s wild horses. Angus Taylor MP recently addressed a protest at Kiandra in KNP, advocating for greater involvement of local communities in the management of National Parks and the Brumbies. His participation received significant media coverage.
The Brumby represents more than a wild horse
The Australia’s Brumby horses are a living symbol of our colonial, western culture and Christian heritage. Their story is deeply interwoven with Australia’s history. Australian Brumby horses served alongside our soldiers during both World War I and World War II. Brumbies featured in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, they appear on Australian coins, have inspired the names of sporting teams and even gave their name to a Subaru model. Horses played a vital role in opening up the Australian interior and helped build the nation we know today.
Local horse women and United Australia Party candidate Tanya Hargraves said “I have a personal connection to this history. My ancestors arrived in Australia in 1798 and brought horses with them and I will be supporting my local rally. Throughout the nineteenth century horses from many bloodlines escaped or were released into what is now Kosciuszko National Park where they established wild populations. Many horses were later rounded up for military service, while others remained in the mountains and adapted to the harsh alpine environment, developing into hardy, intelligent and resilient horses. “I have personally rescued 12 Brumby horses from Kosciuszko National Park, and they are now safe.”
Aerial Inspection of the Parks Five Brumby Retention Zones
This week, Councillor Andrew Thaler and local horseman Shannon Byrne, conducted an aerial inspection of the park’s five Brumby retention zones. They say they observed fewer than 100 horses across the retention areas, which together cover approximately 218,000 hectares (540,000 acres) representing 30% of KNP. They argue these observations raise questions about current population estimates. Written into the existing legislation these areas are safe zones for the Brumby horses but the government is shooting horses in the safe retention zones which is in breach of the legislation.
“The Brumby is an enduring symbol of Australia’s history, heritage and identity. We believe future management should protect both the environment and this important part of our cultural heritage.”
A strongly held view that current government policies are placing Australia’s colonial and western cultural heritage at risk. Many supporters believe the Brumby is an important part of that heritage and should be protected accordingly.
They also question the government’s population estimates and believe these estimates are being overstated to justify further culling.
The Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018 provides for the recognition of the heritage value of wild horses in the park while also requiring their management with a minimum of 3000 Brumby’s to remain in KNP, but the remaining population is now below 100 horses.
As a result, they argue that the current management program could ultimately lead to the elimination of Brumbies and their bloodlines from KNP. Brumby advocates allege the Government is in breach of the Legislation and is breaking the law.
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