“Completely unacceptable”: Save UTAS campus chair urged to rein in members

Save UTAS Campus chair Pam Sharpe has been asked to apologise and “rein in” unsavoury behaviour by the group’s members.

Save UTAS Campus chair Pam Sharpe should apologise and “rein in” unsavoury behaviour of the group’s members, The University of Tasmania’s chief operating officer says.

David Clerk’s call for an apology comes after a member of a private Facebook Group called Save UTAS Campus Supporters, of which Ms Sharpe is one of the admins, revealed which ambulance station Hobart City Council candidate Ryan Posselt worked at.

Another member insinuated Mr Posselt would not provide adequate care to patients with a Save UTAS Campus sign on their house.

The comments were in response to Mr Posselt slamming an analogy used by Save UTAS Campus deputy chair Michael Foster, which compared the university to Putin.

University of Tasmania chief operating officer David Clerk. Pic: supplied.

On Thursday Mr Clerk said the behaviour of Save UTAS Campus members was disgraceful.

“This is exactly the sort of bullying behaviour that I wrote to Professor Sharpe about last week,” Mr Clerk said.

“It is completely unacceptable that Professor Sharpe allows her group’s members to operate in this manner and indeed by her refusal to condemn it and call it out she is actively enabling and encouraging it.”

Mr Clerk said Prof. Sharpe needed to apologise.

“I call on Professor Sharpe to publicly apologise for these comments, the attacks upon Mr Posselt, and to rein in her member’s bullying behaviour,” Mr Clerk said.

Save UTAS Campus group have launched a petition calling on the Hobart City Council to cease its support for the UTAS proposal to move the Sandy Bay Campus, chair Save the UTAS Campus group Prof Pam Sharpe at Hobart Town Hall. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The actions of the Save UTAS group are casting a dark cloud over healthy democratic process, the elector poll and broader city move debate.”

Prof. Sharpe was contacted for comment.

Save UTAS supporters target HCC candidate

Save UTAS supporters have targeted a Hobart City candidate in a private group after he slammed the moderator of a candidate’s forum who compared the university to Putin.

Members of the private Facebook group Save UTAS Campus Supporters criticised Mr Posselt after he said an analogy used by Mike Foster was “wrong” and “offensive”.

“Like Putin in Russia, the university soldiers on, determined to ignore the resolution of the Hobart City Council in March and the Legislative Council inquiry process,” Mr Foster said on Tuesday.

After Mr Posselt spoke to the Mercury on Tuesday, members of the group made comments about his work as a paramedic, questioning whether he would provide adequate care, and another identified the station he worked.

“I think it’s inappropriate behaviour and I think it goes to the nature of the campaign by Save UTAS,” Mr Posselt said.

“This group will stop at nothing for their cause including expressly setting out to harm other people.”

Hobart City Council candidate Ryan Posselt. Picture Chris Kidd

Mr Posselt said anyone he treated would receive the best care possible.

“If I was to attend a patient in Risdon prison I would treat those people in exactly the same manner as someone from Sandy Bay, Bridgewater, anywhere in the state,” Mr Posselt said.

“That’s what we do as healthcare workers, you will receive top tier care, no matter who you are.”

The comments come nearly a week after members of Save UTAS Campus were accused of bullying tactics and vandalism.

University of Tasmania chief operating officer David Clerk last week told the Mercury the personal details of some staff were had been shared online.

“Bullying behaviour by some Save UTAS Campus supporters is harming our people to the point where it is impacting their mental health,” Mr Clerk said.

“People do not feel safe expressing their views.”

Mr Clerk wrote a letter to Save UTAS Campus chair Pam Sharpe, who said bullying behaviour was not condoned.

Ms Sharpe rejected the accusations of vandalism and said members had been warned against bad behaviour via email.

Save UTAS Campus was contacted for comment in relation to the Facebook group.

Outrage over ‘offensive’ UTAS, Putin comparison

A Save UTAS Campus organiser has come under fire for comparing the University of Tasmania to Putin.

On Tuesday, founding committee member Mike Foster used the analogy to describe the persistence of the university.

“Like Putin in Russia, the university soldiers on, determined to ignore the resolution of the Hobart City Council in March and the Legislative Council inquiry process,” Mr Foster said.

The comment was followed by laughter from members of the audience.

Save UTAS Campus group deputy Mike Foster at Hobart Town Hall in February. Picture: Chris Kidd

Hobart City candidate Ryan Posselt said the comment was offensive and wrong.

“I think the tone set at the start of the candidates forum was disappointing and disrespectful to families suffering on both sides of the war in Ukraine,” Mr Posselt said.

“Comparing a modern war where atrocities and war crimes are being committed right now with the movement of a university five kilometres down the road is fear mongering and extremely disappointing.

“I call on the organisers of save UTAS to apologise.”

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