WA PARK RANGERS CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO STAND UP FOR THEM
WHEN: Saturday, 27 September 2025, 7am-12pm
WHERE: National Parks across WA
WHAT: Tomorrow at the beginning of school holidays, WA Park Rangers all over the state will strike for the first time in decades. Every national park staffed by WA Park rangers will be affected.
Quotes attributable to United Workers Union Organiser Darren Roberts:
“WA’s National and Marine Park Rangers are taking ground-breaking action because the State Government has refused to give Park Rangers a fair deal.
“Rangers work hard every day to maintain WA national parks and keep them safe for the public to enjoy. They care for native animals, find you if you get lost bushwalking, provide emergency medical assistance, do fire and emergency management, ensure compliance to prevent damage to parks, assist in search and rescue, clean and maintain the public park and camping facilities to keep parks vibrant and safe for you and future generations.
“Instead, they expect Park Rangers to work weekends, public holidays, overtime and be available 24/7 whenever required without being fairly compensated for the huge amount of hours they do.
“Rangers are calling on the Western Australian Government to give them a fair go.
“UWU members will also NOT be collecting entry fees for visiting WA national parks during the action this school holidays. There will be no risk to public safety, as Rangers will still respond to emergency situations.”
Quote from WA Park Ranger:
“This job has meant we’ve missed too many of our kid’s weekend sports events and performances, weddings and birthdays of friends and family, and been isolated and alone, all while struggling to manage our bills.
“For years Rangers have been under-compensated for working too many weekends, public holidays, late nights and early mornings. Indigenous and entry level Rangers are paid a fraction above minimum wage. Police, teachers and other public servants in remote locations are given deserved compensation and accommodation, while Rangers struggle to find an empty, functioning donga on our own dollar.
“We can’t take a weekend off because Parks are under-staffed and we have no legal right to say no. Rangers in remote areas are worked 20 and sometimes 30 days straight without a break to cover for shortages.
“WA’s National Park Rangers believe in the value of our work, and the community we serve, but our voices are going unheard. We’re not asking for luxuries, but for fairness: fair pay to cover our bills, and safe working conditions so we can go home when we finish work.”
ENDS
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