HERITAGE SHAKE-UP

Department head transferred amid ‘toxic leadership’ claims

THE director of a key public service post has been suddenly moved after months of unrest in the department and claims of“toxic leadership ”.

Pete Smith, right, has been transferred from the top job at Heritage Tasmania to a new post within the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

The long-serving department head has been moved into a new job“to lead several important projects for the department and the Tasmanian Heritage Council ,” a government spokeswoman said.

The change follows a survey of Heritage Tasmania staff earlier this year by the Community and Public Sector Union which identified issues of “toxic leadership” and “bullying” in the organisation.

HERITAGE Tasmania’ s director has suddenly moved on from the job following complaints from staff that included claims of“toxic leadership ”.

A state government spokeswoman on Thursday confirmed long time Heritage Tasmania director Pete Smith had stepped into a new role within the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

“The director of Heritage

Tasmania will transfer into a new role to lead several important projects for the department and the Tasmanian Heritage Council,” the spokeswoman said. “This includes scoping a study on the value of heritage to our economy and community, which is a strategic priority as we move into COVID-19 recovery.”

The vacated Heritage Tasmania role has yet to be filled.

“To facilitate a smooth transition, a senior manager from within the department will take up the director role for the next six months ,” the government spokeswoman said.

“DPIPWE intends to move Heritage Tasmania in the department’s organisational structure into the Land Tasmaniadivision.

“This will deliver significant benefits to both areas given the strongsynergies.”

The change comes after a survey this year of 14 Heritage Tasmania staff, excluding its director, conducted by the Community and Public Sector

Union, identified issues of “toxic leadership” and “bullying”.

The government did not respond to a question about bullying concerns within HeritageTasmania.

The Heritage Tasmania 2018-19 annual report says the organisation has 16 staff in addition to the director.

Of the 14 survey respondents, none agreed that the Heritage Tasmania action plan was progressing well.

Zero per cent of those surveyed said they were satisfied management was committed to cultural change at the organisation. All survey respondents said they felt stressed or anxious at work, and 40 per cent reported feeling stressed or anxious everyday.

Respondents said they were feeling stressed or anxious as a result of harassment, bullying, workload, lack of management directionorother.

D PI P WE and Heritage Tasmania have implemented a Cultural Change Action Plan in response to staff concerns.

Labor’s Alison Standen said the opposition “looks forward to the government beginning to take Heritage Tasmania seriously”.

“Concerns have been raised about re sourcing Heritage Tasmania, issues concerning governance, culture and low staff morale and the integrity of the heritage register since the Liberals came to office,” shesaid.

Mr Smith was contacted for comment.