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.
To read the review GO2
https://qvmag20182019.blogspot.com/
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