ABSTRACT

New South Wales Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty has defended non-compliance penalties of up to $220,000 for individuals and $440,000 for corporations under a Walgett-based feral pig cull pilot program, saying landholders who refuse to participate would be letting their neighbours down. The minister visited the north-west NSW town on Wednesday to meet a newly formed community advisory group, following online threats directed at her after the program was announced last month.

ABC News Australia

NSW Agriculture Minister defends feral pig cull fines after threats over Walgett pilot program

Aug 19, 2026, 8:34 PM

Context

The pilot program drew widespread criticism when announced, with much of the public attention focused on the size of the penalties for non-participation. The minister was subsequently targeted with violent threats online.

The advisory group formed in response includes the Walgett mayor, agricultural leaders, and representatives from Local Land Services, Crown Lands, and National Parks. Broader community consultation is planned to continue until October, with the program scheduled to begin in November.

Moriarty said the program would allow flexibility for individual property arrangements, including the ability to negotiate helicopter access times and to present existing pest-management plans to Local Land Services as a form of participation. She also said government-owned land would face the same expectations as private holdings.

All Perspectives

Minister Tara Moriarty: Moriarty said those who 'deliberately opt out and refuse to participate' would be 'letting their community down' and that 'it will essentially be community pressure to get everyone involved and doing this work at the same time.' She added: 'If you're next to a piece of government land, we've got to take responsibility and do more as well.'

Walgett Mayor Jasen Ramien: Ramien said his 'main issue originally was not consulting the community and stakeholders' but that he was now 'really happy' the minister had returned to do that. He said the program needed to work 'because we're losing stock' and that 'land, crops and fences' were being destroyed, adding the program 'is going to have to go for a couple of years to really get on top of it.'

Walgett farmer Cameron Rowntree: Rowntree said he supported the program and that 'as landholders we're all in and the more the merrier,' but cautioned that success required a long-term commitment not vulnerable to a change in government. 'This isn't something that will be fixed in three months, more like three years,' he said. 'Unless everyone's in, including the public land managers, you're not going to succeed.'

Gaps & Unknowns

The source does not state the total geographic area or number of properties covered by the Walgett pilot program.
The source does not state how compliance or non-compliance with participation requirements would be assessed or enforced.
The source does not describe what specific culling methods the program will employ beyond a reference to helicopters.
The source does not state the total funding allocated to the program.
The source does not identify who made the online threats against Moriarty or whether any law enforcement action has been taken.

Sources & Further Reading

ABC News Australia — original

Read the original at ABC News Australia

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