MEDIA RELEASE

Assembly Committee looks forward to hearing community views on a Mammal Emblem for the ACT

The Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly which was asked at the end of 2017 to look at finding and recommending a mammal emblem for the ACT looks forward to receiving the views of all members of the community who want to make a contribution to the Committee‘s inquiry.

The Standing Committee Chair, Suzanne Orr MLA noted that, following reference of the question to the Committee in December 2017, the Committee published its invitation to all in the ACT community to have their say on possible choices of an emblem the Committee could consider.

Ms Orr also reminds the community the Committee has set Friday, 23 March 2018 as the date for submissions.

Ms Orr also noted the Committee sent an Information Pack on the inquiry to all ACT Schools this week.  The Pack provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use information source and links, and has a section inviting schools to send students’ views to the Committee.

Details of the Committee’s call for submissions, and the questions the Committee has been asked, are at the Committee’s website –

https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/in-committees/standing-committees-current-assembly/standing-committee-on-environment-and-transport-and-city-services/inquiry-for-a-mammal-emblem-for-the-act

Ms Orr said “I and the Committee want to remind everyone interested – particularly our schools - to send their views to the Committee by Friday, 23 March.  The Committee will be looking for the best option for the ACT community to select as our mammal emblem to add to the ACT’s current, very recognizable, emblems of the Royal Bluebell and the Gang-gang cockatoo.”

16 February 2018

For comment – Committee Chair, Suzanne Orr MLA – 62051439

Committee website - https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/in-committees/standing-committees-current-assembly/standing-committee-on-environment-and-transport-and-city-services/inquiry-for-a-mammal-emblem-for-the-act

For information on the inquiry, and making submissions – Committee Secretary,

Andrew Snedden – 62050199

Committee mailbox – LACommitteeETCS@parliament.act.gov.au

Terms of Reference

At its meeting on 30 November 2017, the Legislative Assembly approved the following referral: That this Assembly:

1. Notes:
   1. that the current emblems for the ACT are the floral emblem, the Wahlenbergia gloriosa (Royal Bluebell) adopted in 1982 and the faunal emblem, Callocephalon fimbriatum (Gang-gang Cockatoo) adopted in 1997;
   2. that all other Australian States and Territories have a mammal emblem, distinct from their bird emblem;
   3. that Tasmania was the last State or Territory to adopt a mammal emblem, with the Tasmanian Devil formally proclaimed in May 2015;
   4. that other emblems adopted by other States and Territories are the Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat (South Australia), Numbat (Western Australia), Red Kangaroo (Northern Territory), Koala (Queensland), Platypus (New South Wales) and the Leadbeater’s Possum (Victoria); and
   5. that there has been an increase in local interest of the fact that the ACT does not have a mammal emblem;
2. further notes that the ACT Government does not place legislative requirements around the use of the existing faunal and floral emblems, meaning they can be used by anyone on publications, uniforms or websites; and
3. Resolves that the Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services shall report back to the Assembly on whether the ACT should have a mammal emblem and a recommendation on what that should be by September 2018.