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Brumby rallies have been held across the region with locals attending Jindabyne and Queanbeyan events to further calls for the state government to stop its aerial culling of Brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park.
A Jindabyne rally was held last weekend where local advocates spoke about the need to continuing re-homing Brumbies and efforts to stop aerial culling as a method of controlling Brumby numbers in the park.
Advocates continue to dispute the state government's 2025 Brumby survey results which stated there could be between 6476 and 16411 Brumbies in the park.
At the Jindabyne event, Claire Rogerson and Sidonie Carpenter from the Snowy Brumby Horsemanship at Dalgety delivered a talk on their Brumby trial program - an investigation into whether horses can be used to manage serrated tussock.
Charlie Rogerson attended with his Brumbies, Sandy and Twistie.
Rally organisers and advocates, Sam Quinn and Madison Quinn, read a speech on behalf of well-known local, Leisa Caldwell and Umbango South Brumby Sanctuary and Re-homers.
At the Queanbeyan rally, there were around 140 people in attendance. A March started at Queanbeyan Showground and was led by Rachael Macdonald down Lowe Street to the park where the speeches were held.
The speakers were Peter Cochran, Cochran Horse Treks, Nichole Overall MLC, Mareeta Grundy, Nationals candidate for Monaro, Geoff Court, Rivergums Brumby Horses, and Andrew Wilesmith, Ngarigo Nation Leader and horseman.
Mrs Overall said the state government needs to urgently reconsider its approach to managing Brumbies in the park.
"The turnout - with rallies held around the country - was significant in Queanbeyan and testament to communities feeling they are not being heard nor their valid concerns addressed," Mrs Overall said.
"It’s about balance, transparency and accountability from Labor. Ministers in this current NSW Government were the ones who promised, prior to being elected, they would not introduce aerial culling, and yet here we are, again.
"Millions spent on hunting a few hundred humble horses - meanwhile, disease-ridden, environment-destroying, native-wildlife eating vermin pigs absolutely destroying the joint."
The NSW Legislative Assembly will debate a petition calling for aerial culling to stop on Thursday 6 August.
The Invasive Species Council has labelled efforts against the cull as a 'growing misinformation campaign'.
"This debate has become detached from reality. A national park is being damaged by an invasive species and somehow the controversy is about whether we should stop it," Invasive Species Council CEO, Jack Gough, said.

