Messages of Support

Dear Tasmanian State Government Parliamentarians,

I am writing about the pending cuts to the Tasmanian Herbarium, part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, which I understand will result in the loss of the Head of Herbarium (Dr Gintaras Kantvilas, a lichenologist) and the Curator of Bryology (Dr Jean Jarman).  Both are world-renowned researchers and the only people working on cryptogams (a term including both lichens and bryophytes) in public employment in Tasmania.  

I am an American, yet my primary research interests are in Australia.  I can personally vouch for how important and unique bryophytes and lichens are a part of the flora of Tasmania.

The world is in the middle of a vast biodiversity crisis due to climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species.  Natural history museums in general, and herbaria in particular, are at the center of any possible solutions.  Their collections are documentation of the primary evidence for understanding what biodiversity is (a research field called systematics), baseline conditions present in past centuries (historical ecology), the spatial distribution of biodiversity (key to all conservation planning), and physical reservoirs of potential data from genomics to anatomy to morphology that are vital to studies of adaptation (modern ecological and evolutionary studies).

Tasmania is widely known as an important refuge for biodiversity that is not found anywhere else on the globe.

I urge you to keep the Tasmanian Herbarium funded at full strength, to study and protect your wonderful flora.

Sincerely,

 

Brent D. Mishler

     Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Integrative Biology

     Curator of Bryophytes, University and Jepson Herbaria

     University of California, Berkeley

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my concern regarding recent news about cuts to the resources of the Tasmanian Herbarium (HO), which are primarily affecting the staff and the scientific and administrative management.

Our herbarium, the largest in Spain, has historically and consistently maintained a significant relationship with this herbarium based on loans and exchanges, which has resulted in scientific publications of great value and relevance.

I trust that, given your wisdom and political responsibility, you will reconsider your proposal, which will clearly have an enormous negative impact on Tasmanian, Australian and global science.

Yours sincerely,

Leopoldo Medina

Leopoldo Medina, PhD

Vascular Plants Collection Manager

Herbario MA / MA Herbarium / CITES ES001 Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC Plaza de Murillo 2

28014 Madrid (SPAIN)

https://rjb.csic.es/rjb-colecciones/herbario-ma/

On Peter's behalf, thank you for voicing your concern about devastating staff cuts to TMAG and other vitally important cultural and scientific institutions.

Peter stands with all staff, scientists, curators, researchers and storytellers who preserve Tasmania’s past, present and future, and is holding the government to account for these unjustified cuts to our cultural and environmental heritage.

On 8 September, Peter asked the following question in parliament on behalf of Friends of TMAG, specifically regarding cuts to the research facility at Rosny.

On 25 September, Peter issued a Media Release questioning whether the Government’s cuts to institutions that protect Tasmania’s cultural and natural heritage are part of a desperate scrabble to pay for the Macquarie Point Stadium.

On 27 September, Peter posted on Facebook in support of the TMAG Herbarium.

If you haven’t already, please sign the Parliamentary e-petition sponsored by the Greens calling on the Government to maintain funding and invest in TMAG.

Thank you again for making your views known on this important matter.

Warm wishes

Dr Rayne Allinson  |  Electorate Officer

Office of Peter George MP  |  Independent Member for Franklin

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding the shocking news of the State government’s intention to inflict ill-considered and short-sighted cuts upon our iconic Tasmanian Museum and Arts Gallery (TMAG), and Herbarium.

I share your concerns, disbelief and outrage.

To say I was appalled when the news broke is an understatement.   I have called publicly for the Rockliff government to cease immediately and reverse these drastic and detrimental staffing cuts for both the TMAG and the Herbarium, and to instead recommit to supporting the ongoing work of these crucial facilities.

You can find the public statements I have made so far on this distressing matter on my website here:

Media Release: Government Must Stop Herbarium Job Cuts

ABC Digital News-‘Premier’s STEM Researcher of the Year’ among those set to lose jobs in Tasmanian cost cutting

ABC Drive Radio Interview – Acclaimed State Herbarium Hit by Short-Sighted Government Cuts

I honestly find the Rockliff government’s approach unfathomable and reckless.

We all know TMAG has been badly underfunded over recent years. It is a nonsense for these cuts to be rationalised by government as somehow being “operational efficiencies”, when the stark fact of the matter is – these cuts will prove detrimental to the fundamental operations, capacity and reputation of TMAG and the Herbarium full stop.

Not only is the government risking the important cataloguing and preservation of the range of our exceptional cultural and natural heritage collections, these cuts also endanger the viability of current and future research across a range of sectors including biodiversity, aquaculture, agriculture, tourism and biosecurity.

By slashing capacity to undertake these roles, the government is choosing to place TMAG and the Herbarium in the untenable situation of being unable to meet their statutory obligations.

Further, the government is risking Tasmania losing the essential skills and expertise which have contributed to the deserved local, national and international status held by TMAG and the Herbarium.

Axing roles such as the Head of the Herbarium, Dr Gintaras Kantvilas, recipient of the Premier’s STEM Researcher Award, along with the Senior Curator of Vertebrates and Paleontology, and the Senior Curator of Invertebrates, and a further four positions is a truly senseless, irresponsible and destructive decision by government.

And one which I refuse to accept: on behalf of TMAG and the Herbarium staff and volunteers, the broader scientific community, and for every local Tasmanian who has visited, enjoyed and takes pride in this vital public institution.

Stop Press! : You may be aware of the upcoming Public Meeting scheduled for 12:30-1:30pm on Thursday the 8th of October at Mawson Pavilion, Hobart – please spread the word!

If you are unable to make it, there is an online petition available (it closes on the 24th of November), calling for all TMAG positions to be retained, and which you can access on the Tasmanian Parliament website here.

I do appreciate the time taken to get in touch with me and detail your concerns regarding the serious and long-term ramifications of this ill-informed and irresponsible decision made by the state government.   If there is any other matter with which I can assist, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Otherwise, you can keep informed on my work, on this or any other matter, via my website and my monthly newsletter to which you can subscribe here.

To close, I can assure you I will do my utmost via the parliamentary tools available to me, to have these threatened cuts reversed, and the future of our invaluable TMAG and Herbarium secured.

Kind regards,

Meg

Hon Meg Webb MLC

Independent Member for Nelson

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