Dear Friends,

Thank you for copying me into your email to the Minister regarding the proposed cuts to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) staff.

It was disappointing to learn of these cuts, and they will do undeniable hurt to the cultural and artistic offerings of our State. TMAG is an institution in Hobart, but it is also a centre for Tasmanian artistic expression, a tourist attraction, and a statement of Tasmanian creativity.

I am strongly in favour of ensuring responsible and appropriate budgetary decision-making and am concerned that staffing cuts at TMAG are neither responsible nor appropriate.

This is just another unacceptable budget cut in the face of overwhelming, irrational spend on infrastructure, government reshuffles, and bad ideas. Any intention by the Government to encourage a tourist precinct around the Stadium build will be undercut by decisions such as this. Of course, it is also worth noting that this cut not just an isolated blow to our education system, but that we have recently seen nearly $200 million cut from the Department for Education, Children and Young People budget.

Thank you for advocating for the Museum and I greatly appreciate your contact,

kind regards,

Mike

The Hon Michael Gaffney (MLC)

Member for Mersey