Article-Integrity query on Heritage leader

April 7, 2026

The Mercury | 7 April 2026; pg 4.

Integrity query on Heritage leader

David Killick

The state’s Integrity Commission should take a look into the appointment of former Liberal senator Stephen Parry as chairman of the Tasmanian Heritage Council, and independent MLC says.

Member for Nelson, Meg Webb, says she still had questions about the appointment.

“It seems the more half-answers we get about the appointment of Stephen Parry as chair of the Heritage Council, the more questions emerge,” she said on Monday.

“It’s really on the minister to come out and properly explain exactly what happened here, particularly given what appears to be a political connection. I would expect the Integrity Commission to examine this matter.”

Mr Parry ran for the seat of Montgomery early in 2025 and in Braddon at the next state election, but was not elected.

The Heritage Council position was originally advertised in early 2025, but the announcement of a successful candidate was interrupted by the state election campaign.

The Mercury understands Mr Parry sent his CV to Heritage Minister Madeleine Ogilvie in September, before hte role was formally re-advertised on October 4.

RTI documents show Mr Parry emailed his application to the department on October 8. Ms Ogilvie announced Mr Parry’s appointment on February 11.

“Mr Parry brings deep experience in public service and a strong appreciation for Tasmania’s heritage,” she said.

The 10-hour-a-month job pays $35,000 a year.

Liberal Minister Jo Palmer said in her opinion the process passed the pub test.

“The information I have is that that process was interrupted by an election … so the process had to happen again.”

She denied it was a case of ‘jobs for the boys’.

“Not from where I’m standing, in any way, shape or form, went through the normal process,” she said.

View below the Mercury article as printed, or as a downloadable pdf here