Statement of Support: Friends of TMAG Public Meeting Opposing Cuts
Statement In Solidarity with TMAG and Herbarium Staff, Volunteers and Supporters
For the Friends of TMAG Public Meeting
Thursday, 8 October 2026
Dear friends,
Unfortunately, a parliamentary committee site visit means I am unable to attend today’s important public meeting.
Otherwise, I would be there in person today, standing up to be counted and standing beside you all in solidarity with the staff, volunteers and supporters of our internationally acclaimed and iconic TMAG and Herbarium.
Although absent, I raise my voice with yours, calling on the Rockliff government to stop this short-sighted madness immediately!
The many individuals and local groups emailing me know this is madness.
As do the thirty-odd professional, research, and other stakeholder entities who have also been contacting Tasmanians MPs, including from museums and Universities of Trieste, Uppsala, Oslo, Gdansk, Madrid, Barcelona, Portugal, Prague, Ottawa, Arizona, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey,– all expressing their disbelief, and calling for an urgent reconsideration.
And as do the thousands of Tasmanians who have signed the current petition calling on the cuts to be reversed. We all know it is irresponsible insanity to gut this publicly-owned custodian of our archival and living cultural and natural heritage.
TMAG is not a time capsule of static collections but is a time-machine connecting the past, present and also the key to the as-yet unlocked secrets of the future.
I am today pledging, at the earliest available opportunity, to put to a vote in the Upper House a motion calling for an immediate freeze on all budget and job cuts targeting TMAG and the Herbarium.
Let’s hope common-sense will kick in before then, and we see the government call off now these destructive and incomprehensive cuts. But if not, I guarantee the Parliament will have the opportunity to demand it!
Lastly, thank you to Friends of TMAG for your efforts to save this iconic custodian of so much of that which makes Tasmania unique– we are all indebted to you.
Yours in solidarity,
Meg Webb MLC
Independent Member for Nelson
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