The following is one of a number of messages of support received from people who were unable to attend the public meeting arranged by the Friends of TMAG in Hobart on 8 October 2026. The message was read to the meeting by FOTMAG President, Jane Wilcox

Honourable Alan Blow AO KC, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania

I was appointed as one of the trustees of TMAG in 1990 and was the chairman of trustees from 1991 until March 1997. TMAG was chronically underfunded during those years, but we were able to manage, just. The government had removed three education officers in 1990, but otherwise the institution was fully staffed and we were able to open seven days per week for seven hours per day. That has not been possible for several years as a result of past budget cuts.

We were getting about 100,000 visitors per year through the doors in the 1990s. Nearly triple that number are coming through these days despite the reduced opening hours. 

It was on my watch, over 30 years ago, that Dr Gintaras Kantvilas was appointed as head of the Herbarium. He is an impressively talented botanist and has been building his international reputation ever since.

Successive governments have reduced funding for the TMAG over decades but the past cuts have never threatened its ability to function as a State museum and a State art gallery. If the recently announced staff cuts go ahead, the proper functioning of the institution will become impossible for the first time. Special exhibitions will become impossible, as will the rejuvenation of permanent exhibitions. Without half of its staff, only half of the Herbarium’s work will get done.

No doubt our politicians are working from the premise that there are more votes in football and stadiums than there are in botany and art. However, they simply fail to understand the importance of public cultural institutions and their continuity. I sincerely hope that they can be persuaded to think again about what they are doing.