FOREWORD
The QVMAG's 2018-19 Annual
Report should be seen as one of the most concerning documents to come out of
Launceston's governance in recent times. Read critically, the evidence for
functional unaccountability and the opacity of both governance and management
is in plain view for anyone who wants to see it.
Moreover,
the General Manager's statement in the press ... "Under the
reform, the council is also looking at how to transition the Queen Victoria
Museum and Art Gallery and UTAS Stadium to a more contemporary and appropriate
governance model." is a demonstration of his use of SECTION 62 of
Local Government Act 1993. This is essentially an 'emergency power'
ascribed to his position and one that has been serially, and somewhat
surreally, misused by recent incumbents.
Here
there is a good case for the proposition that the elected representatives, the
QVMAG's Trustees by default, have stood haplessly by in disregard for their
duty of care and the trust invested in them in their 'governance
role'. Who has investments in the institution? Well:
• Launceston's ratepayers;
• Tasmania's taxpayers;
• National and international donors and sponsors;
• Scholars and researchers; and
• The owners of cultural and intellectual property held
in QVMAG collections.
That
all this involves the expenditure of something in the order of $7Million of
public monies, is non-trivial – and this is further compounded
by the fact that there is an estimated $230Million plus in public assets at
risk.
There
must be change and 'reportedly' over some years
external advice has been sought, and paid for – and by all accounts
these 'expert consultants' have been paid
quite handsomely. This 2018/19 report raises concerns that have
remained unaddressed for far too long.
The
status quo must not be allowed to persist. The current state of affairs must be
brought to an end and with some urgency.
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