Tasmanian government denies 30% staff cuts at Hobart museum
The government of the Australian state of Tasmania has denied that the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) in Hobart is required to cut 30% of its staff. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said employees were told during an online meeting last week that 19.7 full-time equivalent positions would be cut by the end of the financial year, ABC News Australia reports.
Dispute over the number of positions
A government spokesperson called the information about the cut of nearly 20 full-time equivalents false and said TMAG was not required to reduce its workforce by 30%. Tasmania's Deputy Premier Guy Barnett also rejected these claims, while noting that efficiency needed to be improved in the public sector.
The exact number of museum employees has not been publicly disclosed. According to ABC, TMAG employs between 50 and 75 people. It is unknown whether any possible cuts would occur through layoffs or natural attrition, or which specific positions they might affect.
During parliamentary questioning, Labor Party MP Meg Brown asked for an explanation of exactly how many jobs would be eliminated at the end of the year. Arts Minister Roger Jaensch confirmed that cuts were taking place in the department responsible for the museum, including the gallery. However, he stressed that this “does not automatically mean 19 positions will be cut at TMAG,” without naming a specific number.
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Public sector reform
The former Department of State Growth is being reorganized into the infrastructure-focused Building Tasmania structure. As part of these changes, 250 jobs are planned to be cut. Overall, Tasmanian Treasurer Eric Abetz plans to cut 1,800 public sector positions by 2032 to curb the growth of public debt, which exceeded $6 billion this year.
In a letter to union members, the CPSU said the proposed changes would have a “profound impact” on employees, TMAG services, and the preservation of Tasmania's cultural and scientific heritage. The union's state secretary, Tirza White, said that during the past six months there had been days when the museum lacked enough staff to properly open all galleries.
TMAG describes itself as Australia's second-oldest museum. Its permanent exhibitions feature materials about the thylacine, Antarctica, palawa history and culture, as well as examples of Tasmania's flora and fauna. More than 280,000 people visited the museum in 2024–25; about half of visitors came from other Australian states, while nearly one-fifth arrived from overseas.
