HORSE advocates from across the Perth Hills travelled to Canberra on October 15 to represent Western Australia at a national rally opposing aerial brumby culling in Kosciuszko National Park.

Residents from across Perth’s eastern suburbs joined an assembly of more than 500 protesters outside Parliament House.

The trip follows previous community action where more than 200 demonstrators gathered in the Midland city centre on August 1 to protest lethal horse management programs, as reported in Midland rallies against wild horse aerial culling.

Wooroloo resident Kim Nilsson said she and other Perth Hills residents made the journey east to convey the widespread public concern to federal decision-makers.

“We stood at the front of Parliament House to speak for those who could not speak for themselves, the Kosciuszko brumbies,” she said.

Supporters carrying banners and signs gathered on the steps of the federal building to demand an immediate end to aerial shooting programs.

Demonstrators were calling for authorities to replace lethal culling with non-lethal alternatives, including passive trapping, fertility control vaccines, and expanded rehoming networks.

Addressing the crowd, Ms Nilsson appealed directly to members of parliament to set aside political debate and acknowledge the reality and impact of the current control programs.

“My speech appealed directly to the hearts and consciences of our representatives, asking them to take away the political debates, and let us look honestly at what is being permitted,” she said.

“Describing the inhumane culling methods of horses being shot from helicopters up to 15 times to try and kill them and being left to die long, slow agonising deaths.”

The rally served as a platform for groups across Australia to share experiences, coordinate strategy, and raise funds for volunteer-run horse sanctuaries.

“We came together to help each other deal with some of the most devastating news and horrific scenes involving our heritage brumbies and to fundraise for the sanctuaries who need our help,” Ms Nilsson said.

“It was so important to have representatives from Western Australia come to support the cause and it speaks volumes to the government, letting them know that this issue is Australia wide.”

The NSW government has confirmed further aerial and ground shooting of wild brumbies has been paused pending the results of the 2026 wild horse population survey which is expected to be published in early 2027.