The Hon. Robert Borsak, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Media Release, 24 May 2024

Robert Borsak, Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, today expressed his profound concern over the statements made yesterday by Atticus Fleming, Deputy Secretary of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), regarding the welfare outcomes of the aerial shooting program targeting feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

Mr. Fleming asserted, “To our knowledge, there has not been a single adverse welfare outcome under this program, and there is no evidence that has come to us that this has been an adverse welfare incident.” In response, Mr. Borsak criticised the NPWS for their lack of substance and transparency.

“NPWS are big on rhetoric but very short on substance,” Mr. Borsak said. “There have been photos circulating on social media of horses shot outside of the target areas specified in their Standard Operating Procedures. Additionally, in October last year, a report on Riotact.com detailed the discovery of two starving foals within the shooting area, one of which subsequently died.”

During the inquiry hearing yesterday, Mr. Borsak questioned the RSPCA about their observations, which were conducted from a helicopter from a distance. The RSPCA indicated they had landed and conducted autopsies on some animals, but Mr. Borsak highlighted that these animals were already dead, making it impossible to determine if the shooting had been humane.

“How can an average of 7.5 shots, up to a maximum of 15 shots, be considered humane?” Mr. Borsak questioned. “The RSPCA has deserted their principles and the people who support them.”

Mr. Borsak further challenged the RSPCA CEO Steven Coleman on whether they would support the installation of video monitoring systems on helicopters and firearms used in the aerial shooting program to enable independent audits. The RSPCA expressed support for this measure.

Mr. Fleming stated, “If there is an incident, we will be transparent, and we’ll adjust our procedures.” However, Mr. Borsak pressed Mr. Fleming on whether NPWS would commit to installing video monitoring systems on helicopters and firearms immediately to ensure transparency and independent auditing of each shooting incident.

“Mr. Fleming demonstrated that he and the NPWS were indeed not interested in transparency by the way he dodged and weaved around the question of installing video monitoring systems on the helicopters and firearms immediately,” Mr. Borsak stated.

Mr. Borsak is calling on any members of the public who have photographs of horses shot in Kosciuszko National Park with bullet wounds outside the chest area to send them to his office or to the Upper House Inquiry.