DPIPWE boss asks staff to be loyal to Parks chief in leaked letter

A top-ranking public servant has issued a plea to workers, even if it goes against their personal beliefs, defending another top fat cat from what he calls a “targeted campaign” to tarnish their reputation. READ THE EMAIL >>

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THE director of the state’s parks service is the victim of a “targeted campaign seeking to tarnish his reputation”, his boss says.

An email calling for public servants to be more loyal has leaked to the Mercury.

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment chief Tim Baker has called on Parks staff to rally behind Jason Jacobi – even if they disagree with his leadership.

Mr Jacobi has come under fire from some conservationists and the Greens for his role in assisting private developers gain access to national parks – in particular at Lake Malbena in the state’s cental highlands.

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In an email to all staff, Mr Baker noted that Mr Jacobi’s actions had been cleared by two recent Integrity Commission investigations, the Supreme Court and planning authorities.

Mr Baker said that it was inevitable some decisions “were not always popular with some sections of the community”.

“Even if at a personal level, you are one of those in the community I refer to above I trust and expect that as a DPWPWE employee you will give Jason your ongoing support,” he said.

“What you may read in the paper is not always the reality and unfortunately the facts can often get lost in the way of a good story.”

The Mercury has not received a complaint about its reporting from the Department.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Baker was “begging disaffected staff to show loyalty”.

“There are plenty of dedicated state servants in DPIPWE who share deepening community opposition to the Liberals’ Expressions of Interest process. Tim Baker and Jason Jacobi know it too,” she said.

“Mr Baker’s plea for loyalty towards Mr Jacobi will fall flat with every DPIPWE staff member who joined the agency in order to help look after this island’s public wild lands.”

The Wilderness Society denied being involved in any campaign against Mr Jacobi — but spokesman Tom Allen said the organisation shared “the apparent concerns of people working in the Parks and Wildlife Service about ... helping privatise national parks, exclude existing users and degrade wilderness, natural and Aboriginal cultural heritage values

Mr Baker recently came under fire for his role in approving the opening of crown lands for duck shooting despite a memo from expert staff saying it should be halted for conservation reasons.

The government defended the decision on the grounds that duck numbers in Tasmania were within historical limits, despite major declines on the mainland.

He was also plunged into controversy by Liberal Party donor and Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief Steve Old who said he called Mr Baker to help Kalis Group obtain an examption to quarrantine rules to get staff into the state to finish the project on time.

Premier Peter Gutwein said Mr Baker did nothing wrong.

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Originally published as DPIPWE boss asks staff to be loyal to Parks chief in leaked letter