Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Australian Treasury chief on 'wombat leave'
Share: 
by Amy Judd | June 27, 2008 at 04:25 pm
2176 views | 5 Recommendations | 10 comments
Photos
Videos
Australia's top treasury official is taking five weeks leave to go into the Australian bush and look after endangered wombats.
I think this is sweet, but then I am one of those people that just loves anything to do with animals...
Ken Henry, treasury secretary and animal conservationist, has warned that hairy-nosed wombats are "on death row".
But opposition politicians - and even wombat lovers - question if now is the time to be thinking about wombats.
Inflation is at a 16-year high, interest rates are up and fuel prices are rising. Mr Henry will also miss a central bank meeting.
For the love of wombats
Mr Henry will be looking after 115 hairy-nosed wombats in an isolated spot in northern Queensland, with no mobile phone coverage and two-and-a-half hours on a rough track from the nearest town.
"There are 10 times as many giant pandas in the world as there are these guys," Mr Henry told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"This place doesn't stop when I am not here."
Mr Henry's leave will take place during the government's winter recess b
An Australian blogger had this viewpoint:
Everybody knows that bureaucrats run the country, not politicians who merely tell bureaucrats how to run the country.
Our most senior bureaucrat who runs the Australian economy, or rather ensures the economy runs itself smoothly, cares more about wombats.
Advertisement
NowPublic on Facebook
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Amy Judd
Vancouver, Canada
dinoboy
London, United Kingdom
RichMurrills
London,Ingsoc
AustraliaNoddy222
Australia
littlehel
Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaThunderkitty
Canada
Chrissy Downunder
Melbourne, Victoria, Australiafboosman
Apex, North Carolina, United States
dacegg
Melbourne, Australiael_nicko
Australia<jan>
Australiawe believe in gnomes
Australiaplatzooie
Australiasarustyle
Taipei, Taiwan
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 17:58 on June 27th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
He is a highly respected public servant who has been working overtime to deliver the budget. He deserves a break! ...and as you probably know, Amy, working out in nature is the most perfect therapy anyone can experience!
at 18:00 on June 27th, 2008
I agree - I think what he is doing is a wonderful idea, but I'm always afraid to say that because people will think I'm crazy. I hope he accomplishes what he sets out to do.
at 22:30 on June 27th, 2008
This little fellow lives in one of the most beautiful and remote valleys in NSW, the Bendethra Valley on the far south coast.
Noddy222 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 22:44 on June 27th, 2008
Wombat at the Lone Pine Koala Reserve in Brisbane, Queensland
Thunderkitty has contributed a photo to this story.
at 22:57 on June 27th, 2008
Yes sir! Those are my wombat lovers :D
littlehel has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:41 on June 28th, 2008
Of course he should do it. Things are desperate for the Northern hairy nosed wombats. He'll come home a better public servant.
platzooie has contributed a photo to this story.
at 02:50 on June 28th, 2008
Of all the wonderful animals in Australia, the Wombat is my favourite because they are so unusual. They look cute enough to come from a childrens' cartoon yet they have an earthiness that marks them as real animals. This chap was held for about 30 minutes like this and loved every minute.
Tasmanian Devils are unusual too but they are just plain ugly, sorry to have to say that. Would never think of even taking a picture, so here's to you, Wombats of OZ, you are certainly a remarkable breed.
Ingsoc has contributed a photo to this story.
at 15:51 on June 28th, 2008
Awww, all these pictures are so cute - thanks everyone!
at 16:46 on June 28th, 2008
Hi,
Rather than talk about this particular image. I'd just like to ask people driving around Australia to slow down when they are in areas where wombat's are regularly sighted. Unfortunately I saw a dead wombat on the side of the road yesterday so slow down please!
Thanks and enjoy,
el_nicko.
el_nicko has contributed a photo to this story.
at 16:55 on June 29th, 2008
This guy's in his natural habitat at wilsons prom, national park. Our wildlife need attention as well, we cant always pick the perfect time for things, it will always clash with other important issues.
<jan> has contributed a photo to this story.