Eden-Monaro report card

Which by-election candidates will save Kosciuszko National Park from the destructive impacts of feral horses?

There are currently 20,000 feral horses trampling through Kosciuszko National Park, degrading water catchments and pushing native wildlife closer to extinction.

Ahead of the 2020 Eden-Monaro by-election we contacted each of the 14 candidates to find out if they will stand up to protect one of Australia’s most iconic national parks from feral horses or let the horses continue to wreak havoc.

We sent all candidates a questionnaire and asked them five, straightforward questions to determine their level of support for protecting Kosciuszko (see table at the bottom of the page) and invited them to detail how they would stand up for Kosciuszko. We ranked the candidates on their overall response.

Reclaim Kosci received responses from 11 of the 14 candidates. The responses are summarised below.

There are currently 20,000 feral horses trampling through Kosciuszko National Park, degrading water catchments and pushing native wildlife closer to extinction.

Ahead of the 2020 Eden-Monaro by-election we contacted each of the 14 candidates to find out if they will stand up to protect one of Australia’s most iconic national parks from feral horses or let the horses continue to wreak havoc.

We sent all candidates a questionnaire and asked them five, straightforward questions to determine their level of support for protecting Kosciuszko and invited them to detail how they would stand up for Kosciuszko. We ranked the candidates on their overall response.

Reclaim Kosci received responses from 11 of the 14 candidates. The responses are summarised below.

CATHY GRIFF
The Greens

The Greens will support removal of horses via all humane control options and investigate placement of Kosciuszko on the world heritage list. 

JAMES HOLGATE
Independent

James supports the complete removal of horses from Kosciuszko and the implementation of a comprehensive, integrated pest management plan.  

 

JOY ANGEL
Sustainable Australia

Sustainable Australia will support a humane control program for all high-risk feral species and will fight for ecological restoration and environmental education programs. 

MICHAEL BALDERSTONE
HEMP Party

The HEMP Party  wholly supports a significant reduction of the feral horse population in Kosciuszko. 

JAMES JANSSON
Science Party

James would look to environmental science experts to inform the best management strategies to preserve and improve our national parks. 

Honour
commitment to end alpine grazing
Reduce
feral horse numbers
Call on NSW to repeal the Heritage Horse ActSupport restoration of degraded high countrySupport post-fire horse control measures
Cathy Griff
YesYesYesYesYes
James Holgate
YesYesYesYesYes
Joy Angel
Yes YesYesYesYes
Michael BalderstoneYesYesYesYesYes
James Jansson
YesYesYesNoYes

NARELLE STOREY
Christian Democratic Party

The Christian Democratic Party supports a significant reduction in feral horses numbers using a range of humane control measures to be outlined within the Act.

KRISTY MCBAIN
Labor

Labor support the protection of the natural ecosystems by reducing feral horse numbers using humane control measures but notes it is largely the responsibility of the state government. 

Honour
commitment to end alpine grazing
Reduce
feral horse numbers
Call on NSW to repeal the Heritage Horse ActSupport restoration of degraded high countrySupport post-fire horse control measures
Narelle Storey
YesYesNoYesYes
Kristy McBain
?Yes???

FIONA KOTVOJS
Liberal

The Liberals would support a balance between the protection of both wild horses and the national park. Fiona did not complete the questionnaire but noted that she supports the current post-fire control measures. 

JASON POTTER
Australian Federation Party

The Australian Federation Party supports a  significant reduction of horse numbers but would rely on  relocation  or repurposing. 

MATTHEW STADTMILLER
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers would support a significant reduction of horse numbers following further scientific surveys. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers advocate for systematic, ground-based culling programs but do not support live capture as a management tool.

Honour
commitment to end alpine grazing
Reduce
feral horse numbers
Call on NSW to repeal the Heritage Horse ActSupport restoration of degraded high countrySupport post-fire horse control measures
Fiona Kotvojs
?Yes??Yes
Jason Potter
?Yes?YesYes
Matthew StadtmillerNoYesNoYesYes

KAREN PORTER
Independent

Karen would like to see a recount before any action, and a management plan put in place. She did not complete the questionnaire and provided no further comments related to feral horses.

TREVOR HICKS
The Nationals

No response received but the NSW Nationals pushed through the law enshrining feral horse protection. 

 

Honour
commitment to end alpine grazing
Reduce
feral horse numbers
Call on NSW to repeal the Heritage Horse ActSupport restoration of degraded high countrySupport post-fire horse control measures
Karen Porter
?????
Trevor Hicks
?????

How much do the candidates care for Kosci?

We asked the candidates five, straightforward questions to determine their level of support for protecting Kosciuszko. Here’s how they responded.

Responses were not obtained from Dean McCrae, The Liberal Democrats, Riccardo Bosi, Independent or Trevor Hicks, The Nationals.
Authorised by the Invasive Species Council, Fairfield, VIC.