The New South Wales government has launched a multi-agency investigation into the National Parks and Wildlife brumby re-homing program after the alleged discovery of hundreds of dead horses on a southern NSW property.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) said this week it had found more than 500 slaughtered horse carcasses in various states of decay at a property outside the city, a number the property owner disputes.
The state government, Environmental Protection Authority, NSW Police, NSW Food Authority, Local Land Services, Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Racing NSW are now investigating the process of re-homing wild horses from Kosciuszko National Park.
In a statement, Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said she had asked the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to also investigate the rehoming program.
"The NSW government is urgently bringing together relevant agencies and will provide further updates shortly," she said.
A government spokesperson clarified that the investigation was expected to look into the restrictions currently placed on licensed re-homers in relation to whether they could euthanase horses.
It will also investigate the owner of the Wagga Wagga property.
The NSW Food Authority is investigating if offences have been committed under the Food Act after seizing over 300 kilograms of horse meat from the property, while the DPI is investigating potential offences under the Biosecurity Act.
'Mind-boggling'
Wagga Wagga horse trader Adrian Talbot claims to be at the centre of the investigation and said he only euthanased a "handful of older horses" that NSW National Parks were "well aware of".
In an interview with the ABC he disputed the number of horse carcasses on the property, calling council's figure "mind-boggling" and said the number of dead horses was closer to 40.
Mr Talbot said all of the horses he slaughtered were "un-rehomeable" and were used to feed his dogs over three years.
And said he had never sold the meat and it was for personal use only.
He said he has re-homed "95 per cent" of the horses that have come into his care, including brumbies from Kosciuszko National Park.
The RSPCA's website states "home slaughter is not illegal in Australia", but meat from animals killed is not allowed to be sold for commercial gain.
The Wagga Wagga City Council has refused to confirm or deny if Mr Talbot is being investigated or if there are multiple people under investigation.
Royal commission called for
Snowy Mountains Brumby Sustainability and Management Group president Dianne Hardly is calling for action to prevent horses being slaughtered illegally.
"I want a royal commission into National Parks. There has to be an immediate stop to trapping and shooting … until a full investigation is done," she said.
A NSW Police spokesperson said the service had "provided assistance to the Wagga Wagga City Council officers in the investigation", but directed further inquiries to the council.
Mayor Dallas Tout said he stood behind the council's findings.
He was now concerned the media attention may harm the ongoing inquiry.
"The reason it was confidential was so that it wouldn't hamper any further investigation," he said.
"The concern is because any potential information or witness … may have gone to ground.
"It's a concern of mine, but we'll never know."
The ABC has contacted the DPI, Racing NSW, the NSW Food Authority, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife for comment.