The rehoming of wild horses from Kosciuszko National Park has been officially suspended while an investigation begins into the NSW Wild Horse Rehoming program.
It follows the recent discovery of more than 500 slaughtered horse carcasses in various states of decay at a property outside Wagga Wagga.
Wagga Wagga City Council said it was leading an investigation into the discovery of the carcasses and that it believed an illegal knackery was operating on the property.
Some of the horses found are believed to be brumbies and a whole-of-government working group is now investigating the incident.
The secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said an investigation into the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) rehoming program would begin next week.
The department has engaged an “external professional services firm” to conduct the investigation, it said in a statement.
The terms of reference outlined that it would look at how wild horses were allocated to applicants by NPWS.
It would also look at whether NPWS made checks on re-homers once they had received horses and whether horse recipients were permitted to euthanase wild horses received under the program.
A report is expected to be provided to DCCEEW on June 14.
Inquiry sets new date
The NSW Parliamentary inquiry into the proposed aerial shooting of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park has added an extra hearing day to its schedule, following the allegations of horse carcasses on the Wagga Wagga property.
“It’s so important that there is clarity about what happened here,” said inquiry chair Emma Hurst.
“Given the recent allegations that have come forward, we’ve decided to bring on an extra hearing day.”
Ms Hurst said the inquiry would run concurrently with the state government’s investigation.
“Our upper-house inquiry is really making sure there is that transparency within the investigation,” she said.
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