Who will save Herbie the Possum ?

Date: 07 July 2009

Queensland AWU members cheered Minister Kate Jones' commitment today to keeping the Herbie the Possum emblem at a media conference this afternoon, responding to AWU concerns.

Parks ranger and AWU delegate Roland Dowling said the Minister's personal commitment was welcomed, but it did not bind the Department under future Ministers or Governments.

• Read today's earlier statement: Rangers want to protect Herbie the Possum

"We applaud the Minister for her support for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and her commitment to the continued use of the Herbert River possum as the Service's emblem," he said.

"However, Minister Jones cannot be the Minister forever and we know the Department does not share her commitment and passion for Herbie."

A commitment to saving Herbie needed in our enterprise agreement

Mr Dowling said the AWU wanted the preservation as Herbie written into the next enterprise agreement with rangers.

"By committing to putting Herbie in our agreement, we know the Department must honour it," he said.

"Like the Minister, we want to save Herbie. But we want his longevity guaranteed in a written agreement."

Media contacts

For more information please contact Jim Wilson on 0419 765 952.

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes
Union:	AWU
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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