Launceston's most undervalued assets is the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery (QVMAG) and especially so in a tourism context. The institution has been evolving in the city for well over 125 years and is by and large funded by the City of Launceston with some State Govt support.
What is poorly understood by ratepayers and residents is just how the institution works and how it is governed. Over recent decades all this has become increasingly mystifying to a point where ratepayers and others have become virtually excluded from decision making and planning processes. And it is so to a point where such decisions take place in 'confidential in house processes' despite Council conscripting $4Million annually from ratepayers via the imposition of 'secrete levies'.
Who is doing this? City of Launceston Aldermen of course. Why are they doing this? That's anybody's guess but mostly because Tasmania's Local Govt. Act 1993 (TLGA) allows Council's 'operational wing' to construct a paradigm that allows it to happen. Worryingly, the GVMAG has a recurrent budget in the order of $6Million without being functionally accountable – Click here for annual report link for 2017. .. Click here for the Mayor's response to a critique
The Aldermen collectively are the QVMAG's 'default Trustees' and they have conspired for mysterying reasons to keep QVMAG policy making and strategic directions secrete. Likewise, the money provided to operate the QVMAG comes from a 'secrete levy within ratepayers' rate demand'. In other words the institution operates on conscripted monies!
The Aldermen are recalcitrant and basically in denial and have serially refused to respond criticism and critiques that challenge the 'status quo'. Click here for a link to Ray Norman's 'LETTER OF CONCERN' Dec 2017. In this instance, aldermanic disinclination to be held accountable is palpable.
Currently, there is a strategic shift in the QVMAG's 'modus operandi' and for whatever reason apart from the scantiest of details, again all this is going on in secrete, Why? Is it because there is an intention to increase the 'secrete levy' to be imposed upon ratepayers? Already, that stands at something in the order of $130 with Council begging $3Million from the State Govt. to top that up. What is PLAN B given that additional funds can be conscripted from ratepayers without recourse? Is there one?
Rather than this Council's repugnant unaccountability, the City of Launceston's constituency needs to be demanding 'transparency and accountability' in regard to the 'governance and management' of the QVMAG as one of the city's most important cultural assets. How can this be done?
- Firstly, hold each and every incumbent Alderman accountable and consider their recalcitrance when you vote.
- Secondly, consider each and every person you vote for's capacity to contribute as a QVMAG Trustee.
- Thirdly, consider each and every person you vote for's inclination to be held accountable and insist upon transparency in all council decision making set against past performances.
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