Heritage Tasmania’s director Pete Smith jumps into new role at DPIPWE after bullying claims

The former director has been moved into another government role after the body was inundated with claims of “bullying”, “toxic leadership” and dissatisfaction from staff.

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THE director of Heritage Tasmania has suddenly moved on from the organisation’s top job following complaints from staff which included claims of “toxic leadership”.

A state government spokeswoman on Thursday confirmed long-running 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 within the Department 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.”

Pete Smith, Director of Heritage Tasmania below the offices at 103 Macquarie Street in a mid 19th century basement.

No one has yet filled the vacated Heritage Tasmania director role.

“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 Tasmania division.

“This will deliver significant benefits to both areas given the strong synergies across functions, systems and processes.”

It comes after a survey earlier 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” at the government organisation.

The state government did not respond to a question about bullying concerns within Heritage Tasmania.

The Heritage Tasmania 2018-19 annual report lists 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, with 40 per cent reporting feeling stressed or anxious every day.

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

DPIPWE and Heritage Tasmania has implemented a Cultural Change Action Plan in response to staff concerns.

Labor’s Environment, Parks and Heritage spokesperson Alison Standen said the state opposition party “looks forward to the government beginning to take Heritage Tasmania seriously by providing full support and resourcing to the hardworking staff”.

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

“Since 2018, there has been a conga line of heritage ministers – Will Hodgman, Peter Gutwein and Elise Archer – at one point three ministers in six months.

There are up to 5000 entries on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

Mr Smith was contacted for comment.