Troubles in Tassie
Tourism Tasmania has split from Events Tasmania as part of a major restructure prompted by a $6 million budget cut.
The government agency is in the final stages of the restructure, which will result in about a third of its positions disappearing.
Control of Events Tasmania will be transferred from the tourism agency to the Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts Department.
Events Tasmania offers financial and organisational support to attract events to the state, supporting 107 events during 2010-11 worth about $33 million to the economy.
Chief executive Tony Mayell said that the change in Events Tasmania’s management “reflected the government’s intention to broaden the role of the events portfolio from a major tourism focus to include broader community liveability and social perspectives”.
Mr Mayell said some new positions had been created as a result of the review and appointments would be finalised by the end of the month but staff numbers would drop significantly.
Two senior staff – former acting chief executive Rowan Sproule and destination development director Claire Ellis – were among the casualties of implementing a leaner set-up.
Earlier, tourism minister Scott Bacon announced the closure of the Launceston call centre with the loss of 12 staff. The reduction in staff is expected to deliver $1.9 million in savings.
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