Thursday, 6 March 2025

Northern Victoria Region

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:50): (1447) My constituency question is for the Minister for Agriculture. Brad Meagher, a horse trainer in Woodend, has allegedly committed severe acts of cruelty when breaking in horses. Images have been shared of horses tied down onto the ground with sheets wrapped around their heads, and one owner received their horse back in a malnourished condition, with rope burns, cuts all over her body and an exposed hip. This is just one of the many, many stories being shared of this man’s horrific abuse. This cruelty is enabled by the absence of regulations on approved training and breaking-in methods beyond the mere, vague code of practice. Unlike dog trainers, who require licences and registration under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, there are no requirements to brand yourself a horse trainer. My constituents are very grateful that this man is being investigated by authorities, but with so many horses and horse trainers in Northern Victoria they want to know if the minister will finally legislate licensing and welfare standards for horse training.