Shock new details emerge about Wagga Wagga property where more than 500 slaughtered horse carcasses were found

More details have emerged about the property where more than 500 slaughtered horse carcasses were discovered, with allegations that the animals were killed as part of an illegal horse-making business for pet food.

Allegations of illegal horse slaughter, possession of firearms, presence of sheep testosterone and theft of a horse had already been referred to the NSW Food Authority in 2021. This came to light during a parliamentary investigation into the aerial shooting of brumbies at Kosciuszko National Park.

This continued for three years before Wagga Wagga City Council confirmed the discovery of more than 500 horses in April this year.

Separately, new figures from NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe confirmed that 260 brumbies from the national park had been resettled on the Wagga Wagga property.

On Thursday, NSW Food Authority compliance director Greg Vakaci said they had referred the matter to police but did not follow up on the complaint.

Mr Vakaci said he had not been advised on the number of carcasses on the property.

His comments come amid ongoing investigations at the site, in a multi-government approach involving the Environmental Protection Authority, NSW Police, NSW Food Authority, Local Land Services, Department of Primary Industries and Racing NSW.

Further investigation revealed that 434kg of animal meat had been seized, consisting of 320kg of horse meat and 114kg of pork fat, Mr Vakaci told the inquiry.

Mr Vakaci said the presence of different animal products in one facility posed cross-contamination risks.

“There are controls that ensure certain animals are processed at certain points, and that comes down to the way they are controlled,” he said.

‘Minimizing contamination and cross-contamination is very important.

‘Hypothetically, the processing of different species is happening, but it is controlled through their systems.’

In April, Wagga Wagga City Council confirmed the discovery, following reports that the horses had been abandoned in a dry creek bed.

The council said carcasses were found in various states of decay and discovered at locations throughout the property.

“Some of these carcasses were little more than skeletal remains, while others were killed relatively recently,” the council said in a statement.

In evidence, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said what unfolded at Wagga Wagga was “shocking” and that around 260 horses from Kosciuszko National Park had been sent to the estate.

Sharing updated figures on aerial surveys in the park, she said 8,505 horses had been removed between 2019 and May 20 this year, 5,539 of which were through aerial surveys.

Of the 2,760 horses relocated from the park, only one horse was missing.

Ms Sharpe also confirmed that no money had been exchanged for rehoming horses.

She said investigations had been carried out by a private company which she believed found no misconduct by National Parks and Wildlife Service staff.

“The National Parks and Wildlife Service has discovered that only one horse is missing out of approximately 2,700 horses trapped since 2019,” she said.

“The horses are provided free of charge and are acquired when requested and available, indicating that there is no incentive to make improper payments.”

She said a review, which will deliver its findings on June 14, will examine how government agencies share data, with the Wagga Wagga property flagged by another agency not referred to NPWS staff, the department responsible for rehousing.

“The review will get to the bottom of this, but I understand it has not been shared with the national parks. If that’s the case, then it shouldn’t have happened,” she said.

Questioning of senior RSPCA staff also revealed that surveys in January searched just one of the site’s 20 hectares, revealing around 20 live animals.

“Their priority is to assess and determine the condition of the live animals, which were also the subject of the complaint,” RSPCA chief executive Steve Coleman said.

“After satisfying themselves that the condition of the live animals was good, their next step is to talk to the owner again.”

Questions were also raised about why investigators failed to conduct an investigation or move to a cool room, despite allegations that the property was being used as an illegal shack – a building used to slaughter animals for animal food .

Mr. Coleman admitted that investigators saw the cool room but did not enter it.

Under intense questioning, Mr Coleman admitted the RSPCA should have referred this to the Department of Primary Industries.

‘Do we look at every cool room in every building we go to? No. In retrospect, should we do that? Yes,’ he said.