Subject: Oppose staff reductions at TMAG

Dear Member of Parliament,

Tasmania requires both economic ambition and strong cultural, educational and scientific institutions; these goals are complementary, not competing.

I urge you to oppose the proposed staff reductions at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) and to advocate for complete transparency regarding the number of positions at risk and the services that may be affected.

You know that TMAG is far more than a museum. As Tasmania's leading cultural and natural heritage institution, it combines the functions of a museum, art gallery and herbarium, and is entrusted with the care of nearly one million items held in the State Collection. These collections preserve the stories of Tasmania's people, landscapes, biodiversity and history, and represent an irreplaceable public asset.

Importantly, a collection has value only when it is supported by the expertise required to conserve, document, interpret and share it. TMAG's staff provide the specialist knowledge that enables exhibitions, educational programs, scientific research, conservation activities, collection management, community engagement and the protection of culturally significant material. Once these skills are lost, they are extraordinarily difficult and costly to rebuild.

TMAG is also an important contributor to Tasmania's economy and reputation. More than 280,000 visitors attended TMAG in 2024-25, with a significant proportion coming from interstate and overseas. The institution is a major drawcard for visitors, an educational resource for schools and universities, and a source of pride for all Tasmanians.

Whether cuts fall on public-facing roles or behind-the-scenes specialists, the result will inevitably be diminished capability. Reduced staffing means fewer exhibitions, fewer educational opportunities, reduced research capacity, less community engagement, and greater risk to the long-term stewardship of Tasmania's cultural, scientific and Aboriginal heritage.

At a time when Tasmanians are asked to make difficult choices about public expenditure, decisions affecting irreplaceable institutions such as TMAG must be made based on evidence, transparency and a clear understanding of the long-term consequences. Heritage collections are easy to neglect, but the resulting damage can take decades to repair, if it can be repaired at all.

I therefore ask you to:

• Publicly oppose staff reductions that would undermine TMAG's core functions;

• Call for full disclosure of the number and nature of positions proposed for removal;

• Require an immediate assessment of the impacts of these proposed staff reductions on collections, research, education and visitor services; and

• Support sustainable funding arrangements that protect this institution for future generations.

Cultural guardianship is not an optional extra, it is the glue for Tasmania’s communities. Tasmania's heritage is not a discretionary luxury. It is part of our identity, our educational infrastructure, our tourism offering and our legacy to future generations. We cannot afford to diminish it through short-term savings measures that may create far greater long-term costs.

More broadly, the proposed $1.5 billion public-sector savings program raises legitimate questions about Tasmania's priorities and the long-term consequences of reducing public-service capability. While fiscal responsibility is important, savings achieved through the loss of specialist expertise in institutions such as TMAG risk imposing costs that are not immediately visible in budget papers. Heritage knowledge, curatorial expertise, scientific collections management and educational capacity are difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to replace once lost. Investments in major infrastructure projects may deliver important benefits, but they must not come at the expense of the institutions that preserve Tasmania's identity, knowledge and cultural legacy. Tasmania requires both economic ambition and strong cultural, educational and scientific institutions; these goals are complementary, not competing.

 

Yours sincerely,

Holger Meinke

New Town