THE COP'S ART SQUAD AND LAUNCESTON'S COUNCIL

BE ALERT, BE AWARE 

We are talking about the Mayor of Launceston's media stunt where he 'called in the cops'. All this may have very little to do with recovering Bret Whiteley's $30K drawing WAVES 5.  All this does however, could have a lot – possibly everything? – to do the Mayor's election prospects. It's a bit uncomfortable, to say the least, being the 'chairperson' of the trustees of a museum that cannot find a drawing with a possible value of $20 -$30K in it collection. Being seen to be 'careless' might be  a little bit uncomfortable too. 

In a press interview the Mayor talked about "transparency" and was implying that he was being 'accountable'. The unfolding story is that the drawing's 'missing status' has been known of for quite some time. It seems that the Mayor, and possibly other Aldermen too, may not have paid serious attention to this the matter earlier. Well maybe not until the news of the matter was likely to 'escape' if the 'wall of silence fell' – and apparently that was on the cards. And there is an election in the air, so 'the go 'might be to fess-up and look cleanish.

Given that the QVMAG's Aldermen/Trustees typically discuss matters such as this behind closed doors, in camera, well away from the glare of public scrutiny, the main consideration on anyone's mind seems to have been, will this story get out. It has!

It did and not because the Mayor went to the cops and the press with a matter of local, state, national and international interest. November might well have been better timing but so be it. It is September, the election is in October and we might well ask what else has been discovered, found to be missing, found damaged, whatever, in a search for a drawing that nobody has seen for 40 years? 

Good questions! At this point are they questions that anyone really wants to answer right now? Perhaps there is another question, did anyone pay any attention, systematic attention, taking note of anything untoward while looking for this drawing? And yes, who is searching under whose supervision?

If there was a hint of accountability or transparency we'd have the answers already. However, the questions keep on posing themselves. Therefore, the very idea that there would be "accountability and transparency" is an idea that seems to fade daily. 

Why? Well this council has built a reputation over its term for meeting behind closed doors and with the imprimatur of it being 'confidential business' under SECTION 62 of the Tasmanian Local Govt Act 1993.

The big question arising is the classic one. Would/could/should we be able to trust these people with our lunch money? The question is rhetorical of course! 

Ratepayers, sponsors and donors to the QVMAG should be expressing their concerns if they have any and now might be a really good a time.