CANBERRA - The Australian government responded on Friday to protests by mountain cattlemen and issued emergency laws to protect their 170-year tradition of allowing their herds to graze on plains in the country's alpine region.

The protection comes a day after more than 500 mountain cattlemen rode on horseback to the Victoria state parliament in the southern city of Melbourne to protest its moves to prevent grazing in the Alpine National Park.
Environment Minister Ian Campbell listed the Alpine National Park under the National Heritage Act to protect the practice of grazing in the 640,000 hectare (1.5 million acre) plains.
"I believe the Victorian government's decision to ban grazing in the park poses a clear threat to historic heritage values," Campbell said in a statement.
Campbell will decide later this year whether to grant permanent protection to the park and its cattle grazing that inspired the poem "The Man from Snowy River" and a film of the same name.
"We're encouraged by this move by the federal government," said Simon Turner, the president of the cattlemen's association.
"Alpine grazing is something that's been happening continuously for 170 years and gave rise to the 'Man from Snowy River' and is very symbolic to all Australians.
Victorian state Premier Steve Bracks has said the ban on cattle grazing in the national park was aimed at protecting a natural asset and important water catchment, citing scientific evidence that cattle were damaging the sensitive alpine environment.
Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said he believed most people would support the mountain cattlemen.
"They are a big part of our history. They are a big part of our mythology ... Why close the cattlemen down? I would have thought that there were bigger evils in society than the mountain cattlemen in the high country," Costello told reporters.