Uncertainty surrounds the future staffing levels at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) in Hobart, following reports of impending job cuts that the state government has moved to clarify. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) stated that employees were informed of plans to cut 19.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions by the end of the financial year, a figure initially reported by the ABC as a 30 per cent reduction in the workforce.
However, Tasmanian Arts Minister Roger Jaensch confirmed that while cuts are occurring within the department responsible for the museum and gallery, this “does not automatically mean 19 positions will be cut at TMAG,” without providing a specific number of job losses for the institution itself. The Tasmanian government has denied the 30 per cent staff cut figure for TMAG.
The proposed changes at TMAG are part of a wider public sector reform agenda. The former Department of State Growth is undergoing a reorganisation into the infrastructure-focused Building Tasmania structure, a move expected to result in 250 job reductions. More broadly, Tasmanian Treasurer Eric Abetz has outlined plans to reduce 1,800 public sector positions by 2032, aiming to address public debt that has surpassed $6 billion this year. The government’s target is to shrink the public sector workforce by approximately 6.6 per cent by 2032, which would equate to nearly 2,500 fewer workers from the 36,963 employed in June 2024. Public sector unions have criticised the state budget, which seeks to save $1.5 billion through these job cuts. The government has maintained that frontline positions will be protected, though a clear definition of “frontline” has not been provided.
The CPSU’s State Secretary, Tirza White, expressed concerns that the proposed changes would have a “profound impact” on employees, TMAG services, and the preservation of Tasmania’s cultural and scientific heritage. Ms White also highlighted instances where the museum reportedly lacked sufficient staff to fully open all galleries.
This situation at TMAG comes amidst broader challenges for Tasmania’s cultural sector. Arts Minister Jaensch, who has held the portfolio for less than two months, inherited a landscape where Screen Tasmania’s funding is set to decrease by $300,000 in 2027-28, forcing arts organisations to compete with heritage programs for Creative Industries Fund allocations. Screen Tasmania itself has seen significant reductions, operating with a “skeleton staff” of fewer than two full-time employees following a restructure that merged it, Brand Tasmania, and TMAG into a new Creative Industries, Sport and Visitor Economy division. Furthermore, TasTAFE has cut several creative courses, raising fears of a “creative brain drain” from the state.
TMAG, recognised as Australia’s second-oldest museum, plays a crucial role in preserving and showcasing nearly one million items of the State Collection. In the 2024-25 financial year, it attracted over 280,000 visitors, with a significant portion coming from interstate and overseas.
The full extent of the impact on TMAG’s operations and staffing remains a point of contention between the union and the state government. Readers seeking more details on this developing story are encouraged to refer to the original reporting by ABC News (Tasmania).