Independent Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr gave notice on Wednesday of his intention to introduce a Bill to repeal the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act.
The Act, introduced by former deputy premier John Barilaro, recognised the 鈥渉eritage鈥 value of brumbies and mandated their population be reduced to 3000.
While it will be years until a new target is set, Invasive Species CEO Jack Gough said even one horse in Kosciuszko would cause 鈥渆normous amounts of damage鈥.
鈥淭he question is the scale of damage that we鈥檙e prepared to accept,鈥 Mr Gough said alongside Mr McGirr on Wednesday.
鈥淗aving 1/3 of the national park set up as an area that is essentially a horse paddock instead of a national park is not something that Australians want.鈥
Mr Gough admitted it would be difficult to reduce the number of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park to zero, but stressed the risk the brumbies posed.
鈥淲e know that the Australian landscape did not evolve with large, heavy, hard-hoofed animals that are cutting up that landscape,鈥 he said.
鈥淭hey are draining the peat moss and are causing enormous amount of damage to the homes of our native species.鈥
In May, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service reported as few as 1500 brumbies may be left in the park following extensive aerial culling.
While images released by the Park service showed recovery to the fragile alpine ecosystem, the method of reducing horse numbers has been controversial.
Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said there was 鈥渘o justification鈥 for aerial shooting at Kosciuszko, and that the party would not be supporting Mr McGirr鈥檚 bill.
If it was passed, she expressed concern it would result in a 鈥減ush to kill any remaining animals that are there in the park鈥.
鈥淭he push to actually repeal this act, to open the doors to allow for that killing is mind boggling,鈥 she said.
Ms Hurst called on NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe to 鈥渒eep her word鈥 about aerial shooting.
Ms Sharpe told a budget estimates committee aerial shooting had 鈥渃eased for now鈥 in the horse retention area after the population reports were released.
Further aerial shooting has taken place outside of the retention area from June 10 until June 30, targeting 鈥渁ll feral animals鈥.
In a statement, Ms Sharpe said the state government was close to reaching the legislated targeted of 3000 wild horses in Kosciuszko, two years ahead of deadline.
鈥淲e鈥檙e now focused on population management,鈥 she said.
鈥淲e will have a look at the Bill, as we do with all Bills.鈥
Future of the Brumby Bill remains unclear
If passed, the Mr McGirr鈥檚 bill would create a transition period from January 1 until July 1, 2027, at which point the previous management plan would end.
The Wild Horses Community Advisory Panel will also be dissolved, with the state government freed up to create a new management plan.
On Wednesday, Mr Gough and Mr McGirr expressed their confidence that the Bill would be approved with support from Labor and Liberals.
Mr Gough said the so-called Brumby Bill had 鈥渘o friends left鈥 in either the upper or lower houses, including from the Liberals, Greens, and Labor.
Ms Hurst was less certain, raising the possibility it may not be supported by Nationals Party or the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers party.
Australian Brumby Alliance President Nikki Alberts is part of a vocal minority in the community who stridently oppose the shooting of brumbies in the park.
She also expressed fears that if the Heritage Act was repealed 鈥渢hey鈥檒l go in and shoot them (the brumbies) all鈥.
Ms Alberts said the Alliance had put forward a proposal for management of the brumby population, with a focus on rehoming.
Currently, the NSW government employs a range of brumby management measures, including trapping and rehoming and early-days immunocontraceptives.