Question & Answer – Tasmanian Heritage Council – Appointment of Chair

March 18, 2026

Ms WEBB question to LEADER for the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms RATTRAY

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Regarding the 11 February announcement by the Minister for Arts and Heritage of the appointment of the new Chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council, can the government:

(1) Detail the advertising and selection process undertaken, including:

(a) timeframe during which the position was advertised and promoted and whether that promotion was solely Tasmanian based or also extended interstate;

(b) Whether, and if so, how many potential candidates were actively headhunted and encouraged to apply;

(c) Membership of the selection panel;

(d) Provision of a copy of the selection criteria, and

(2) Detail the application and interview vetting process, including:

(a) The number of applications received;

(b) Whether there was a candidate shortlisted, based upon formal applications;

(c) The number of interviews held by the selection panel; and

(d) Whether all shortlist applicants provided heritage expertise-related referees;

ANSWER

The answers to the member’s questions are as follows:

(1)
(a) The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) undertook a public expression of interest (EOI) process to fill the position of Chairperson of the Tasmanian Heritage Council. The EOI opened on 4 October 2025 and closed on 21 October 2025.

(b) The position was advertised in Tasmania through the three daily newspapers and the Tasmanian Women’s Register, as well as promoted interstate via the NRE Tas website and NRE Tas LinkedIn page. All Heritage Council members were provided a link to the advertised EOI and encouraged to share with their networks.

(c) The selection panel comprised: Mr Will Joscelyne, General Manager of Heritage NRE Tas (Panel Chair); Ms Louise Wilson, Deputy Secretary, Environment, Heritage and Land NRE Tas; and Mr Ben Goodsir, General Manager, Infrastructure Tasmania, Department of State Growth.

(d) The key selection criteria as outlined in the advertised applicant information package were as follows, and as part of this answer is a table. I seek leave to table the answer to (1)(d) the key selection criteria, and have it incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted; document incorporated.

Ms WEBB – That was question (1)(a) to (d). Then there’s also (2)(a) to (d). Am I getting answers to those?

b – Madam Deputy President, I appreciate the honourable member who posed the questions asking for the rest of the answer.

(2)

(a) Five applications were received by the closing date.

(b) The panel shortlisted all five candidates based on an assessment of the application submitted. One candidate withdrew prior to interviews being held.

(c) The panel met with the four candidates on 6 and 11 November 2025.

(d) Referee checks were requested for the four shortlisted candidates to verify the experience, skills and attributes identified in the key selection criteria and discussed during the interviews.

Madam DEPUTY PRESIDENT – Any further questions, member for Nelson?

Ms WEBB – I’m just interested in further clarification, as that was a very sketchy answer to (2)(d), which was whether all shortlisted applicants provided heritage expertise-related referees and, if so, were all heritage-related referees contacted? I would like an answer specifically to that question. If that’s not available now, will the Leader please take that on notice?

Ms RATTRAY – The answer to (2)(d) was: referee checks were requested for the four shortlisted candidates to verify the experience, skills and attributes identified in the key selection criteria and discussed during interviews. I have provided that table, and the honourable member will receive that as soon as my office is able to send that.

Ms Webb – Unfortunately, that doesn’t answer the question.

Madam DEPUTY PRESIDENT – Order.

Ms RATTRAY – If there’s additional information that is required, then I undertake to find that and provide that. Thank you.